holly holy day, battle of Nantwich

Scores of Nantwich youngsters will take part in a historical parade as part of the “Battle of Nantwich” Holly Holy Day event.

Children aged from just two to 16 will be involved in the parade which sets off from Nantwich Museum.

Holly Holy Day celebrates on January 25 looks set to attract thousands of visitors to the town.

The Sealed Knot are the main attraction, as they re-enact the great battle of 1644 between the Royalists and Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.

This year, children will be dressing up in historical costume and parade from Pillory Street at 10am and walk the short distance to Nantwich Town Square.

There will be £300 of prizes on offer for the best costumes, thanks to donations made by Crewe & Nantwich Weaver Rotary Club.

The winning school involved will also receive a 6-week “school run” series on local community radio station, Redshift Radio.

Redshift will have a stage in the square, and there will be many other activities taking place as part of Holly Holy Day.

The Sealed Knot will crown the event with their battle re-enactment set to take place on Mill Island, after the soldiers have marched into the town square.

Entertainment on the day starts in the town square at 9.30am with a series of stage performances including X-Academy, Domesday Morris Dancers, and a tableau from Nantwich Players, which will conclude with a pillory re-enactment opposite the museum.

Other entertainments taking place during the morning include plough witches, horses on parade, a hog roast, face painting in the Market Hall, and a living history tableau on the  lawns outside St Mary’s Church.

Nantwich Museum will be hosting several events including a Battle of Nantwich exhibition, a musketry demonstration and guided civil war walks.

Nantwich Bookshop will be hosting a civil war authors’ book signing event.

On hand to sign copies of their novels will be local author DW Bradbridge, Lindsey Davis and Michael Arnold.

The Soldiers Parade  starts in the town centre at 1.30pm and is followed by a wreath laying ceremony and the soldiers’ march to Mill Island, where the battle re-enactment commences at 2pm.

Access to Mill Island to view the event costs £2 per adult and £1 per child with all proceeds going towards the ongoing costs of running the event, which is organised and staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

Programmes for Holly Holy Day 2014 are available from Nantwich Bookshop and Nantwich Museum.

Or a digital version is available here.

 

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