Nantwich Museum has unveiled a new “The Battle of Nantwich, 25 January 1644” video to commemorate the event.
Despite this year’s Holly Holy Day being cancelled by Covid, this video will help bring home the significance of the annual event.
It has been produced and narrated by Dr Keith Lawrence, volunteer and director of the Cheshire Civil War Centre at the Museum.
It can be viewed on the Museum’s website at https://nantwichmuseum.org.uk/holly-holy-day
Also available are details of the English Civil War and the local battle, a free downloadable children’s comic about the battle and a wide variety of booklets.
The “Battle of Nantwich and Winter Fayre” event usually takes place on Holly Holy Day towards the end of January to commemorate the battle.
Unfortunately, the Museum is also closed because of the pandemic, denying visitors a chance to view the displays and learn more about the war and its battles.
Chair of the Museum Board Helen Cooke said: “We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to still mark the occasion through the medium of our website.”
Holly Holy Day was held yearly to commemorate the victory of a makeshift Parliamentary army under Sir Thomas Fairfax over the Royalist forces of Lord John Byron at Acton on 25 January 1644.
The townsfolk would wear a sprig of holly as a memorial to the raising of the siege, which, if it had been successful, would have delivered the whole of Cheshire into the hands of the Royalists.
Meanwhile, Nantwich Digital Museum is offering online events during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A winter season of talks has been put together following the success of online talks, which drew substantial audiences including some from abroad.
They provide a chance to learn more about the history of the area, the evolution of local maps and the story of Sir John Brunner of Brunner Mond, the chemical works in Northwich, who contributed £200 towards the construction of a Free Library, the building destined to become today’s museum.
Wednesday 17 February “The History of Townsend House and Nantwich Walled Garden” by Helen Cooke.
Wednesday 24 February “The Drovers come to Nantwich” by Wyn Jones.
Wednesday 3 March “The Story of Crewe Hall” by Graham Dodd.
Wednesday 10 March “The River Weaver’s Water – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” by Helen Cooke.
Wednesday 17 March “Mapping Nantwich from Speed to the Ordnance Survey” by Keith Lawrence.
Wednesday 24 March “Sir John Brunner” by Diana Leitch.
Participants can join the talks from 1.50pm for a prompt start at 2pm.
Full instructions for joining will be provided when booking.
The cost is £5.00 per talk with all proceeds supporting the work of the Museum.
Tickets can be obtained online at https://nantwichmuseum.org.uk/webinars-2021/
For further information contact Nantwich Museum on [email protected] or telephone 01270 627104.
Visit www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk, https://www.facebook.com/nantwich.museum https://twitter.com/NantwichMuseum
Since when has it been known locally as The “Battle of Nantwich and Winter Fayre” event to commemorate the battle?
It is a date to commemorate not celebrate with a so called “Winter
Fayre”
What comes next a 1940’s party on the 11th November???