The day people came to blows (From Gazette Series)

The day people came to blows

VISITORS to an historic Norman castle over the May Day Bank Holiday were taken back to the English Civil War.

Berkeley Castle was besieged by members of the English Civil War Society who re-enacted life during the war.

One of the features of the spectacle was a 6lb cannon, which has recently repaired by the Gloucester Wheel and Carriage Company in Uley.

Dursley residents Sheila and David Wellman, of Captain Henry Hazzards Company of Artillery, fitted the wheels back on to the gun carriage and then travelled to the event on it.

Activities included living history displays, arts, crafts, talks and demonstrations from the Fairfax Battalia, the Oxford Company and Captain Henry Hazzards Company of Artillery.

Berkeley Castle events organiser Rachel Groom said: "We had 1,500 people come, which was up on last year. It was a good weekend and the re-enactment group was one of the best we have had. It looked impressive and the public had a good time.

"It was a re-enactment of when the castle was a Royalist household and they really bought it to life and explained what happened here."