Sealed Knot society to re-enact English Civil War
Aug 13 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
THE first of around 1,000 English Civil war re-enactors arrived on Wearside yesterday to prepare for a re-run of a crucial clash between Royalist and Parliamentary forces in 1644.
Setting up camp at Seaburn, members of the Sealed Knot civil war society will re-enact the battle tomorrow and Sunday in front of the historic setting of Hylton Castle in Sunderland.
Thousands of spectators are expected at the 2pm battles in what will be the biggest event ever to be staged by the Sealed Knot – the largest re-enactment society in Europe with 5,000 members - in the North East for more than 20 years.
“Hylton Castle and Dene is a wonderful setting and this will be a really spectacular and colourful event. Interest has been phenomenal, ” said Denny Wilson, Sunderland City Council portfolio holder for safer city and culture, who lives in Castletown near Hylton Castle.
The rift between Royalist Newcastle and Sunderland, who supported the Parliamentarian cause, is said to be one of the reasons for the long-running rivalry between Tyne and Wear.
“It has to be one of the causes as Newcastle and Sunderland were pitted against each other in the Civil War,” said Coun Wilson.
On March 2, 1644, The Parliament-supporting Scots army camped at Harraton, near Sunderland.
At stake was the issue of who controlled the ports of Newcastle and Sunderland – the export of vital coal supplies to London and the revenue this produced – and the means of supplying armies generally in the North.
There was action around Penshaw Hill and Humbledon Hill in Sunderland before the Battle of Hylton Castle was fought on March 23 in 1644, which resulted in up to 2,500 fatalities. The Royalists later attacked Sunderland but were fought off.
The war damaged the fortunes of the Royalist Hylton family but Sunderland benefited from supporting Parliament by emerging as a sea port in its own right.
Sealed Knot spokeswoman Rachel Lacy, a standard bearer, was camped at Seaburn yesterday with 17-year-old daughter Carol, who is a trainee gun captain.
She said: “The Civil War was where the rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland began. This is the first time we have visited Sunderland and everyone is really looking forward to the battle re-enactments.
“Our period dress, weapons and equipment not only on the battlefield, but also in the respective army camps, is as authentic as we can make it and the historic surroundings provided by Hylton Castle will certainly add to the atmosphere and sense of occasion. We are all really looking forward to putting on a great show for the people of Sunderland and the region.”
The living history camp opens at 11am, when people can see members drilling and engaged in 17th-Century trades.
Coun Wilson also hopes the event will raise the profile of the Grade I-listed Hylton Castle, which is managed by English Heritage. The highly-decorative gatehouse-tower of the castle was built by Sir William Hylton around 1400.
Coun Wilson’s aim is to see the castle, currently a shell which is open only on special days, re-roofed and used as a leisure attraction and education base, with its own visitor centre.
