After a leisurely morning Peter and I set off for the drive up to Weston-Super-Mare. The motorway was quite busy so it took 2 hours, (1 1/2 hrs coming home as the roads were empty). We followed the signs for the battle and ended up driving along and parking on the beach, something we've never done before. It was a beautiful day and as we were on the far side of the battlefield it wasn't too crowded and we had good views, we did use our binoculars as we were watching our old regiment, Earl Rivers and looking out for our boys. It was interesting to watch the battle but it is much more fun to be part of it. Sadly even if we had the time to rejoin Peter definitely could not be part of the pike block.
Once the armies had assembled there was the usual standard waving and getting into position.
There were 2 groups of 9 horse, it is quite expensive to have horse as they either have to be hired locally or members have to bring down their own horses. I can remember a group of horse riding round the battlefield, nipping round the back and quickly changing their sashes and coming back out as the opposing side.
Plenty of cannon to make satisfyingly loud bangs.
Then there were the musketeers. Now you see them.....
....... now you don't.
The Parliamentarians were defending the ramparts which were eventually overrun by the Royalists.
The beginning of the assault on the ramparts. Earl Rivers regt along with Northamptons and Bluecoats are on their way up. Vytas (with a breastplate on), is standing in the middle of the picture looking at Romas (in black), on the far left.
Vytas then threw himself into the attack and is now half-way up the slope. When he got to the top he ended up launching himself onto the Lord General of the Parliamentarian army, knocking him to the floor and getting a cut just below his eye from the pommel of the Lord General's sword.
Once the 2 hour battle was over Peter and I followed some pikemen returning to the campsite in their cars and sneaked in past the gate guards to await the return of our gang. The campsite was at an old airfield some miles outside of Weston. A couple of thousand knotters had enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend but we do remember many wet, windy and muddy camping experiences with the Sealed Knot. We joined the Knot when Vytas was 3 months old and carried on for 7 years until we moved down to Devon.
Here we have Vytas, Sam and Kate E enjoying a welcome cup of tea after a strenuous battle. (Actually Kate had been dog sitting.)
And some more of the gang, Alex, Kate B, Romas and Pete.
Once the armies had assembled there was the usual standard waving and getting into position.
There were 2 groups of 9 horse, it is quite expensive to have horse as they either have to be hired locally or members have to bring down their own horses. I can remember a group of horse riding round the battlefield, nipping round the back and quickly changing their sashes and coming back out as the opposing side.
Plenty of cannon to make satisfyingly loud bangs.
Then there were the musketeers. Now you see them.....
....... now you don't.
The Parliamentarians were defending the ramparts which were eventually overrun by the Royalists.
The beginning of the assault on the ramparts. Earl Rivers regt along with Northamptons and Bluecoats are on their way up. Vytas (with a breastplate on), is standing in the middle of the picture looking at Romas (in black), on the far left.
Vytas then threw himself into the attack and is now half-way up the slope. When he got to the top he ended up launching himself onto the Lord General of the Parliamentarian army, knocking him to the floor and getting a cut just below his eye from the pommel of the Lord General's sword.
Once the 2 hour battle was over Peter and I followed some pikemen returning to the campsite in their cars and sneaked in past the gate guards to await the return of our gang. The campsite was at an old airfield some miles outside of Weston. A couple of thousand knotters had enjoyed the lovely weather this weekend but we do remember many wet, windy and muddy camping experiences with the Sealed Knot. We joined the Knot when Vytas was 3 months old and carried on for 7 years until we moved down to Devon.
Here we have Vytas, Sam and Kate E enjoying a welcome cup of tea after a strenuous battle. (Actually Kate had been dog sitting.)
And some more of the gang, Alex, Kate B, Romas and Pete.More photos of Weston tomorrow.
