The Sealed Knot - Sealed Knot Members Site

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In any year the Sealed Knot organises and takes part in over 200 events. These range from small visits to schools, lectures and drill displays organised by individual regiments through a scale of mini musters, involving hundreds of participants, to spectacular Major events open to the whole society where up to three thousand members can be taking part. Most of our events take place between Easter and October when the historic venues to which we are often invited are open and the weather is kinder to audiences and participants alike. However during the winter months the activities do not cease. Commemorative and smaller indoor re-enactments, educational and social events increasingly provide opportunities for members to enjoy their hobby throughout the year. Stackpole Elidor - 5th December Parliament of course 'cancelled' Christmas. In West Wales however it still appears to be practised, as one Puritan reports: "The ancient church of St James at Stackpole Elidor, south of Pembroke, was crowded with parishioners and Knot members for the annual Sealed Knot Christmas service. The theme this year was a Civil War Christmas service: all the readings were taken from writings of the period, and to add authenticity, half way through a troop of Parliamentarian Musketeers entered the Church and arrested the vicar and various members of the congregation for ignoring the laws against idolatrous worship. Music was provided, as in previous years, by La Volta, a well-known local group specialising in music of the time. Over £100 was raised for the church funds." Perhaps fines or coercion by armed soldiers added to the collection... Nantwich - 22ndJanuary Rusty Lodge MUSTERS AND WHAT KNOT - The first large-scale event in every year since 1972 has been the Holly Holy Day commemoration of the Battle of Nantwich in Cheshire, which draws members from all over the country. Many sleep over in a school sports hall in the town; others bed and breakfast locally; still more commute for the day. Once again it began with a march through the town, a parade and a memorial service. The troops then marched to the riverside 2005 battlefield where a hard-fought but highly enjoyable engagement left many members muddy but enthused for another year with the Knot. "This year the opportunity was taken to make a special presentation to one of the longest-serving members of the Knot. Andrew Gillitt joined the Sealed Knot in 1969 and was present at the first muster at Basing House. He became the face of the Sealed Knot in Cheshire and the Northwest. In 1972 he organised the very first Nantwich and continued to organise the event every January until 1994 when he passed that role to Colin Bissett. Now aged 90, the irrepressible Mr Gillitt retains his enthusiasm and still insists in being involved with the events, taking the role of commentator for the annual parade and memorial service conducted in the town centre and helping with the commentary of the battle close by. Three years ago he was awarded the King's Gold Medal in recognition of his significant contribution to the Sealed Knot. This year the Royalist Lord General presented a special award to him recognising his long service and involvement with Nantwich." A feature of Nantwich is the drill competition. The regiments competing were put through their paces in front of the judging panel before joining the march. This year the Earl of Manchester's regiment, having trained hard and fought well, won the coveted Rose Bowl against stiff opposition. The competition had been so close that the matter was finally resolved on the field and rumour has it that it came down to one pike push. Caldicot Castle - 25th-28th March Mike Lindsay This event was set in the ground of Caldicot Castle, and for many it was the first event of the main season. Living history demonstrations and drill sessions provided interest to the visitors and a welcome opportunity for the Sealed Knot to train for the coming 'campaign season'. There was a small battle in the grounds outside of the castle walls, with added interest because some of the defending Parliamentarian musketeers had positioned themselves on the top of the castle tower and were shooting down towards the attackers. However, this did not affect the outcome and the defenders were forced to retreat back into the castle walls for safety. Shortly after, the gates were over-run and once inside, the Royalist attackers quickly put paid to any and all (including children) found inside. The younger members of The Knot loved this chance to be involved in the action for the finale of each day's activities. SEALED KNOT YEARBOOK 2 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2004/5
High Wycombe Museum - 23rd April The Earl of Northampton's Regiment of Foote built upon their previous visit to High Wycombe museum with a one-day regimental event. This was a depiction of a regiment which had garrisoned itself upon the land of a local gentleman and were causing trouble in the neighbourhood - disrupting local St George's Day festivities being funded by the local landowner and demanding food and money for their keep in the name of the King.... "During our day at the museum members of the regiment took the opportunity to talk about their various interests in the period. There was food, leather-working, spinning, an apothecary and his wares and, not least, the soldiery. Northampton's have a double-barrelled cannon and this too was on display. The children were able to collect a worksheet to guide them through the camp, with questions which could be answered by talking to members of the regiment. They were also able to learn basic pike and musket drill using specially made small pike and 'dummy' muskets. They were then entertained by a wonderful "George and the Dragon" puppet show. They seemed to have a great time and I think the Commanding Officer would have been proud to see them in his ranks. What really surprised us was how keen the museum staff were to get involved. Several of the staff even borrowed our spare kit and dressed up for the day." Denbigh Castle - 30th April-1st May Philippe Le Pinnet For May Bank Holiday and at very short notice Colonel Owen's Company put on a small event in Denbigh Castle on behalf of CADW. A Captain Lieutenant took time off his duties to send the following dispatch: "Set in the heart of the Denbighshire hills, this was a special location and event as many men who joined Col Owen's original regiment were from the surrounding area and Sir John Owen was held a prisoner in the castle, after his capture in 1648. The event was a living history and drill followed by a skirmish within the castle's walls. The Castle Custodian said the event was phenomenal. "The atmosphere was brilliant and the feedback we got from people is that it was a great event and something totally different." Devizes - 30th April - 2nd May During the build up to the Roundway Down Battlefield Festival Lord Saye and Sele's Blewe Regiment of Foote undertook a number of promotional events, ably assisted by friends from the Earl of Northampton's and Newcastle's regiments. The aim was to promote the forthcoming Festival in July and raise awareness around Devizes of its English Civil War heritage. "Over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend we camped at Netherstreet Farm as guests of the Chairman of the Roundway Down Battlefield Festival Committee. On Saturday we provided a living history display at Devizes Museum. The museum is situated in Longstreet, scene of some bitter street fighting on the day before the 1643 battle on Roundway Down. The walls of nearby St Mary's Church still bear the scars of grapeshot. The "Roundway Roundheads" set up in the museum grounds and provided a range of arms and drill displays interspersed with opportunities for younger members of the audience to enlist and join as trainee pikemen. The museum supplied us with enough local produce and wood for the fire to produce a potage. During the day several patrols were sent out into the town. Proclamations were read, drawing more visitors to the museum and setting the scene for the events to follow later that weekend and during the Festival in July. The Museum Chairman was delighted with the show which had brought far more visitors than expected. The day concluded with a meal in The Oliver Cromwell public house, a short distance from Roundway Down, where Cromwell is said to have stayed during his campaigns in the area. Sunday found the Knotters exploring Roundway Down. Publicity photographs were taken on the Down and the regiment was familiarised with the layout of the site and the plans for July. The day concluded with a campfire and barbecue to which the promoters of the Festival were invited. They seemed to be impressed with the way we 'let our hair down', despite the dubious singing that ended the evening! On Bank Holiday Monday the Sealed Knot was back in town taking part in Devizes' traditional May Day celebrations. The Lions Club had organised a series of events at locations around the town. Saye's and friends provided arena displays and cameos at key locations, marching with drums and colours between sites. We also took the opportunity to distribute promotional fliers for the Festival amongst those watching our passage. All in all it was a very successful weekend - great fun for the members and adding interest to the Bank Holiday weekend in Devizes. It was a marvellous opportunity to publicise the events planned for July and the excellent press coverage helped to spread the message to a wider audience." Stratton - 14th-15th May For 29 years the Sealed Knot has worked with the community of Stratton near Bude to commemorate the battle of 16th May 1643 that took place nearby where the forces of the Parliamentarian Earl of Stamford and Lord Chudleigh were driven from Cornwall by Ralph Hopton and Sir Bevill Grenvile. The Sealed Knot has also helped the local council to buy a large piece of the battlefield so that it is in public hands and cannot be built on. The muster is important for Bude and Stratton, for retaining interest in local history and the Civil War in general. Steve Dury SEALED KNOT REVIEW 3 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2004/5
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