Storming the castle for re-enactment (From Gazette Series)

Storming the castle for re-enactment

SOLDIERS marched on Berkeley Castle but there was only friendly fire this week unlike during the Civil War battle that waged there in 1643.

Troops of the Sealed Knot were inspected by Charles Berkeley on Sunday and visitors got the chance to try on period costume and handle a pikestaff.

But it was a different story during the English Civil War when the castle was a Royalist garrison that was taken by Parliamentarian Captain Forbes and held by him until he retreated when Royalists took Bristol.

Re-enactors of the Sealed Knot Tillier's Regiment will be returning to Berkeley from April 29 - May 1 to re-stage the battle.

Events organiser Rachael Groom said: "It will be the biggest fight that has happened here since the real thing. The soldiers will storm the castle and have skirmishes in every corner of the garden. It's going to be fantastic."

On April 29 a £50 a head banquet will be staged in the castle, the gatehouse will be barricaded and soldiers will be armed with fire pikes in the dark for a night fight.