Back in time for park battle

READY for weekend . . . Foxdenton Hall

ONE of Oldham's most loved parks will be transformed into a battle scene as a civil war re-enactment takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors will be transported back to the 1640s as up to 100 soldiers and followers descend on Chadderton's Foxdenton Park to re-enact battles from the English Civil War over the fun-filled weekend.

There will be a procession of soldiers from Kingfisher School at noon on each day with skirmishes acted out throughout the park by Parliamentarian and Royalist groups before going to battle.

The battle will be carried out by members of The Sealed Knot, who perform at events all over the country, sometimes with cannons and horses as well as foot soldiers with muskets and pikes.

Time

The event has been organised by community group Chadderton Together Save Foxdenton Hall and is supported by Firwood & District Residents' Association and Chadderton Historical Society, who will be providing information about Foxdenton Hall's history and its owners down the centuries.

Rev John Simmons, chair of Chadderton Together Save Foxdenton Hall campaign, said: "Visitors will be able to step back in time, to the 1640s when Chadderton was on the front lines of war between Parliamentarian and Royalist groups, and witness an actual battle with muskets, pikes, and drums organised by the Earl of Manchester's Regiment."

The event will also coincide with the annual Chadderton Day. There will be food stalls, crafts and activities for all the family during the weekend, with the Prince and Princess of Chadderton crowned at 1pm on Saturday.

John said: "Foxdenton Hall dates back to 1620 and the original Radcliffe family living in the Hall at the time were Royalists.

Tumultuous

"Having a civil war re-enactment fits in perfectly. The Sealed Knot will give local people the chance to see what life was like during this tumultuous period of British history.

"From the food our ancestors ate to the weapons they carried and the crafts they made their livelihoods from ­- so it will feel like a really historical event and a brilliant day out for the whole family."

The event will run from noon until 4pm, with the main battle taking place at 2pm on the sports field behind Foxdenton Hall each day.

Money raised on the day will go to the Save Foxdenton Hall appeal.