English Civil War events this spring and summer

Re-enactors fire their muskets at a London event

Note: this article has now been superceded by the new Events section.

There's a stack of English Civil War-related events planned for this spring and summer.

Talks, walks, re-enactments, exhibitions, 'living history' days: almost every weekend there's something of interest for English Civil War historians and everyone else who wants to learn more about this pivotal, fascinating period (Mar - Sept listed below) ...

Some events are suitable for families/school parties, though best to check with the organisers first. This page might not reflect any recent changes in dates or cancellations, so check also on the organisers' websites to make sure the event is going ahead.

Events presented by local councils, their museum services, local history societies and other other organisations are indicated as such. All others are indicated by the following acronyms:

BT = Battlefields Trust event
SK = Sealed Knot event
ECWS = English Civil War Society event

Mar 20
St Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, Stourbridge
Stourbridge BMSGH English Civil War talk with with special reference to Bewdley, Kidderminster & Worcester

Mar 21
Cricklade Historical Society - Cricklade Town Hall
The English Civil War in Wiltshire 1642-46

Mar 21
Stow-on-the-Wold
Unveiling of commemorative a English Civil War plaque
Descendants of enemy commanders to meet in Stow Square. One of a number of events commemorating the Battle of Stow on the Wold 1646.

Mar 23
St Edward's Hall, Stow-on-the-Wold
Heroes and Villains of the English Civil War (BT)
Julian Humphrys talks about the dramatic lives of the characters portrayed in the paintings at St Edward's Hall. Martin Fiennes will also speak about Broughton Castle near Banbury. One of a number of events commemorating the Battle of Stow on the Wold 1646.

Mar 24 - 25
Gloucester
English Civil War Living History Event at Folk Museum and Docks, Gloucester (ECWS)

Mar 25
Stow on the Wold
A walk around the site of the last battle of the 'First' Civil War (BT)
Simon Marsh leads the walk. One of a number of events commemorating the Battle of Stow on the Wold 1646.

Mar 25
Cheriton, Hampshire
Memorial service and drill display (SK)

Mar 27

Pendennis castle, Falmouth
Author Debate: English Civil War
Fiona Mountain in conversation with writer and broadcaster Paul Blezard (English Heritage event).

March 31
Guildford
Discovering the English Civil War (BT)
Afternoon of English Civil War talks in Guildford's historic Abbot's Hospital: Alan Turton, author and former curator of Basing House, on the life of the Civil War soldier; Julian Humphrys on the English Civil War in Surrey and NE Hants; Question and answer session with English Civil War author Mike Arnold.

March 31
Farnham
The Godolphin Regiment of Foote make camp in the grounds of Farnham library before a series of family events.
Part of Surrey Libraries Children's Book Festival 2012.

Apr 5 - Sept 30
The Wild, the Beautiful and the Damned
Exhibition of Stuart women portraits at Hampton Court Palace.

Apr 6 - 9
Basing House, Hampshire
Battle re-enactment (SK)

April 14
Barnstaple
Commemoration of the Siege of Barnstaple 1646. (SK)

April 22
Manchester
St. George's Day Parade (SK)

May 5 (TBC)
Linton, Cambs
Re-enactment commemorating the 1648 'battle' of Linton (ECWS)
Part of the Linton Children's Book Festival 2012.

May 5 - 7
Wentworth Castle, Yorkshire
Large battle re-enactment, living history (SK)

May 6
Peterborough
Tudor and Stuart Peterborough Tour
Accompany a costumed guide to hidden buildings that survive from the period and learn about the families that lived there 350 years ago. Hear stories of the Queens buried in the Cathedral and the demise of Peterborough Abbey. Find out what happened when the English Civil War came to Peterborough and grimace at ghastly tales of The Plague, which killed a third of the town.

May 12 - 13
Marbury, Cheshire
Parade, living history (SK)

May 12 - 13
Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey
English Civil War weekend

May 13
Battle of Chalgrove 1643 (BT)
Derek Lester leads a walk over the 1643 battlefield

May 18
Grimsby
Propaganda and the Pulpit in the English Civil Wars, 1640-1649
Historical Association Grimsby Branch 50th Anniversary Meeting

May 19 - 20
Hillsorough Park, Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Battle re-enactment. (SK)

May 20
Basing House, Hampshire
Visit to Basing House Ruins (BT)
Alan Turton, Chair of the Trust's Wessex Region leads a tour of the ruins.

May 26
Wigan, Lancashire.
Battle re-enactment. (SK)

Jun 2 - 4
Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire.
Large battle re-enactment. (SK)

June 16 - 17
Arlington Court, Devon.
Living history, displays and small battle re-enactment (SK)

Jun 16 - 17
Naseby Memorial, Northamptonshire.
Parade, displays and small battle re-enactment (SK)

Jun 16 - 17
Llangan, South Wales.
Battle re-enactment (SK)

Jun 23 - 24
Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire.
Small battle re-enactment. (SK)

Jun 23 - 24
Ackworth, Yorkshire.
Small battle re-enactment (SK)

Jun 23 - 24
Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire.
Living history, displays small battle re-enactment (SK)

Jun 24
Battle of Cropredy Bridge 1644 (BT)
Stephen Barker leads a walk around the site of one of the last Royalist victories in the English Civil War.

Jun 30 - July 1
University of Leicester
The Fairfax 400th Anniversary Conference
A two day inter-disciplinary conference to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Jun 30 - Jul 1
Marston Moor, Yorkshire
Living history, drill, march and service. (SK)

Jun 30 - Dec 31
Dunelm Gallery, Durham
Restoration: how one man changed Durham
An exhibition celebrating Bishop John Cosin's life and achievements through the English Civil War and into the 1660s, when he embarked on major construction and restoration projects, including the building of his library on Palace Green.

Jul 1
Naseby, Northants.
Battle of Naseby 1645 (BT)
Details to follow.

Jul 14 - 15
Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire.
Battle re-enactment arena display. (SK)

Jul 21 - 22
Isle of Anglesey, Wales.
Living history and display. (SK)

Jul 28
Chester
Civil War Chester (BT)
Bob Burgess will lead a walk of English Civil War Chester.

Jul 28 - 29
Tutbury, Staffordshire
Re-enactment of the Siege of Tutbury Castle, 1646

Jul 28 - 29
Sledmere House, Yorkshire.
Battle re-enactment. (SK)

Aug 5 - 6
Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire.
Living history and display. (SK)

Aug 11 - 12
Chester, Lancashire.
Battle re-enactment, living history camp. (SK)

Aug 11 - 12
Fort George, Nairn, Scotland.
Living History Camp & Display. (SK)

Aug 12
Maidstone, Kent
Walking tour of the town to study one of the main uprisings that marked the Second English Civil War: the Battle of Maidstone that took place on 1 June 1648. (BT)

Aug 18 - 19
St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
“Pobl y Pentref" (People of the Village) (ECWS)
The English Civil War Society will portray the People of the Village (Pobl y Pentref) coming to terms with the impact of the Civil Wars on their families, community and the country.

Aug 25 - 27
Glynde House, East Sussex.
Large battle re-enactment, living history camp & displays. (SK)

Sept 15
Leeds, Royal Armouries
The English Civil Wars: The politics, equipment and archaeology
One-day conference with special emphasis on investigations into arms/equipment and on knowledge of battles made possible by recent advances in battlefield archaeology.

Sep 15 - 16
Fernhurst, West Sussex.
Living history, displays and small battle re-enactment (SK)

Sep 15 - 16
Thornhill, Yorkshire.
Living history, displays and small battle re-enactment (SK)

Sep 22 - 23
Belbroughton, Worcestershire.
Living history, displays and small battle re-enactment (SK)