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Tillier’s and the Cheriton Campaign / background / Cheriton 2004 / Cheriton 2005
The Anniversary / Alresford under Siege / The Battle of Cheriton re-enactment
What people have said
Tillier’s and the Cheriton Campaign 2004/05
Tillier’s were delighted to undertake a wide-ranging series of activities and events in and around Cheriton in Hampshire. Working in conjunction with the Battle of Cheriton Project Ltd and many local and public bodies, the objectives were:
Over the past two years, we have organised many varied activities from schools visits to the battlefield and talks at local schools, through sponsored marches to two mini musters and the largest battle re-enactment in Europe during 2005. Additionally, members of the regiment are still involved in the future plans, which include more school visits, an interactive educational web site, a circular battlefield walk with sign boards and a major archaeological survey of the site with the Battlefield Trust.
The series of events has brought together many different local and national groups:
Partners |
Objective |
The Battlefield Trust |
To confirm the true location of the battle. To bring the battlefield to life with accurate and informative signage |
Winchester City Council |
To create a fully-interactive educational programme for local schools linking to the national curriculum |
Hampshire County Council |
To encourage local business activity through increased visitors and tourism to the area |
Gillian Knight (landowner of Battlefield) |
To raise profile and improve marketing of the battlefield. To gain the battlefield the recognition it deserves |
The Sealed Knot |
To deliver a faithful re-enactment of an understated battle of the civil war and encourage educational activity |
Significance and background to the Battle of Cheriton
By the winter of 1643, the English Civil War had been raging for over a year, right across the country. Parliament had control of London, East Anglia and the south-east. After a succession of victories in the summer of 1643 under Lord Ralph Hopton, the royalists had driven the parliamentarians out of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.
Hampshire was now in the front-line with the county hotly disputed by both sides. Parliament held Portsmouth, Southampton and Farnham. The royalists had captured Winchester and Andover and maintained a strong garrison at Basing House. Advanced posts were established at Alton, Petersfield and Arundel Castle.
In December 1643, the parliamentarian commander, Sir William Waller, launched surprise attacks to capture royalist troops at Alton and stormed Arundel castle. An uneasy truce settled over the county.
The grand royalist strategy for the 1644 campaigning season involved a three-pronged advance on London to end the war. Armies would descend from the north, along the Thames valley in the centre and from Winchester in the south. Parliament would be stretched to halt them.
To achieve this task, Hopton brought troops from the West Country and raised more men locally. Re-enforced by a contingent of the King’s main Oxford army under the aging Lord Forth, the army numbered around 3,500 infantry and 3,000 cavalry. Waller’s parliamentarian army comprised his West Country regiments, troops from the southern association of counties and the London Brigade. Just before the battle he also received a re-enforcement of cavalry troopers from the army of the Earl of Essex. Waller now had around 5,000 infantry and 4,500 cavalry under his command.
March 1644 saw both armies manoeuvring across the countryside as the weather cleared. After three weeks of marching and counter-marching, Hopton’s royalists arrived in Alresford just ahead of Waller’s advanced guard. Skirmishing continued throughout the next two days, ending with a large royalist force under Lisle camped on East Down. Waller’s parliamentarians camped across the valley at Hinton Ampner. The die was cast for an epic showdown.
In this 360th anniversary year the Sealed Knot embarked on an ambitious project in partnership with the local landowner, local councils and The Battlefield Trust, to raise the profile of this important battlefield, both from an educational and commemorative perspective.
Tillier’s regiment with friends and colleagues staged a series of events culminating in a re-enactment in June.
The Sponsored March
Over the actual anniversary weekend of 27/28 th March 2004, we retraced the steps of the retreating royalist troops from Cheriton to Basing House, some 20 miles. Members far exceeded our fund-raising target with over £2,800 raised to fund the local educational campaign and to support The Battlefield Trust in increasing the profile and awareness of the battlefield. The march was conducted in a fantastic spirit and everyone arrived safely, on schedule. Thanks to Tillier’s, Hawkin’s and our friends from the Guard, Skippon’s and The Blew’s.
(on the ramparts of Basing House itself)
Week Commencing Monday 14th June
Supported by colleagues in Robarte’s, The Guard, Rupert’s, Minimore’s and others we organised and ran an authentic camp. Around 600 local school children visited the camp on a half-day educational trip, experiencing life in the seventeenth century and witnessing military displays and a detailed review of the battle itself. The feedback from children and teachers alike was outstanding.
The Mini Muster, 19/20th June
(a floral tribute at the memorial)
Around 650 members of the Sealed Knot turned this into a really large mini muster. Organised into authentic regiments and divisions for the weekend, many regiments brigaded with unfamiliar units, swapped sides and fought under the real colours of units at the battle, many madespecially for the event. Camped on Apple Down, the initial deployment area for the royalist army and its final rallying point, members were able to enjoy the wonderful Hampshire Downs. The scripted battle gave the public a potted version of the actual battle, with the initial action of deployed musketeers, Bard’s rash assault and the parliamentarian left hook demonstrating clearly to the crowd how the fortunes of battle ebbed and flowed. Aided by a commentary identifying units on the field by coat and authentic colour, the public were enthralled by the action. Feedback from the crowd was universally positive.
On Saturday, many members of the society attended the ceremonial unveiling of the first new Battlefield Trust sign, funded by the Sealed Knot. Arthur Jackson, as chairman made a stirring speech, accompanied by Iain Dickie of the Trust and local TV personality Debbie Thrower. Bard’s movingly laid a memorial wreath for the fallen.
(the main battle line)
During the night on Saturday, around sixty members took the opportunity to re-enact the skirmishing that took place on East Down during the night before the battle. The parliamentary forces (with royalist compatriots) managed to somehow co-ordinate perfectly a three-pronged assault on the royalist camp. No mean feat across rough terrain in the pitch dark. Aided by plunging royalist morale, complete success was only marred by the mysterious disappearance of the prize. This was a unique opportunity to savour the atmosphere of a deserted countryside, unchanged since the civil war. Peering into the darkness and listening to every sound, slowly advancing down enclosed lanes awaiting a fateful musket volley really gave us a feel for how it must have been.
The whole weekend demonstrated the Sealed Knot at its very best. Everyone worked hard to make the show work. The participation drill sessions for the audience were a huge success. The spirit shown by everyone was magnificent – exemplified by the life-size table football match staged outside a beer tent that must rate as one of the best for many years. Tillier’s are to be applauded for their ability to stage yet another unique event. Not only organising the Sealed Knot side of the event, the team were largely responsible for the entire showground set-up and support functions, without which there wouldn’t have been a show at all.
The sponsors were delighted, with three thousand visitors ensuring the show returned a small profit. With the success of 2004, there is the opportunity to stage something even bigger and better in 2005. Watch this space.
All in all, the Sealed Knot delivered. Educational opportunities for hundreds of local school children, significant investment in local businesses and a great day out for local people. Well done to everyone who came and contributed to the success of Cheriton 2004.
Following on from the success of events last year, Tillier’s kicked off an even more ambitious programme for 2005 that would culminate in the largest battle re-enactment of the year.
When we sat down with the sponsors in October 2003, it was always planned that the event of 2004 would be a toe in the water for bigger and better things. The ultimate objective was to raise funds to create a circular battlefield walk, offer educational opportunities to local schoolchildren, discover once and for all the true location of the fighting and to create a battle re-enactment that would do justice to those men who fought across the land in 1644.
With last year’s events being so successful the sponsors forged ahead and started planning in September 2004. Whilst the muster weekend itself took much focus, parallel strands ran for the lottery grant bids and the schools visit week.
Finally the New Year turned and things took off in earnest.
Over the Easter weekend 26-28th March Scrubbs Farm played host to a booked mini muster. On Good Friday, hardy Tillier’s with friends from Rawdon’s re-traced the steps of the Royalist Army as it marched from East Meon across the downs to the battlefield.
Over 13 miles were covered, with a cannon in tow and over £2,000 was raised towards the cost of the project.
Battle raged across the farmland over the next few days as Rawdon’s, Tillier’s, Rupert’s, King’s Guard and the Blew Regiment fought wargames with their usual vigour.
(The sponsored march team)
There was even time to convoy into Winchester to garrison the West Gate on Easter Sunday – a PR coup that saw well over one thousand local inhabitants turn up to watch. Winchester City Council were delighted with our display.
(Garrisoning Winchester West Gate)
Finally, not forgetting the historical significance of the date, on Easter Monday, Tillier’s and friends marched to the monument to lay a memorial wreath not only to those who fell on both sides that fateful day on 29 th March 1644, but also to the fallen from all conflicts.
(Laying the memorial wreath)
Alresford under Siege – 20th June 2005
In the build-up to the main attraction, the town of Alresford played host to a living history encampment along the main boulevard. With the Broad Street closed to traffic, the road became central to an encampment of the royalist baggage train. Several drill displays with pike, musket and cannon demonstrated to the large crowds just how the battles were fought. Many onlookers had the opportunity to have a go for themselves. During the highlight of the day, nearly two thousand local people enjoyed a fast-flowing skirmish. Our thanks to colleagues from Rawdon’s, Forlorn Hope and Western Association for their support.
Late June saw another 800 local schoolchildren enjoy site visits to the authentic camp on the battlefield. The feedback was amazing and our deepest thanks to friends in Robarte’s, Minimore’s, Esra and others for their support during a most fulfilling week.
(Local Alresford residents learn authentic drill)
As summer waned the Bank Holiday drew near.
The battle re-enactment was planned to be something different. A unique opportunity to create an accurate civil war re-enactment on the original battlefield. The armies were re-organised along the historically accurate lines, regiments and brigades were asked to take on specific roles and nearly thirty colours were specially made. To add interest to the public, the theme Heritage and History would offer more than just the civil war battle. A range of re-enactment groups from across time combined with rural and educational activities was planned to offer the public a really interactive day out. The two arenas would offer non-stop action from medieval archery, civil war through to Sedgemoor displays, cavalry through the ages and French Indian Wars. The authentic camps nestling in the woodland would be a source of great public interest. Most of this would be provided through the Sealed Knot membership, to whom we are indebted.
We even brought into the team eminent historians Professor Ronald Hutton and Richard Holmes to add authenticity to the commentary. The feedback on this critical part of the show was outstanding, bringing to life as it did the ensuing spectacle.
The weekend itself was bathed in glorious sunshine. Around 2,000 soldiers, 80 horse and 20 cannon gave the most realistic portrayal of an English Civil War battle ever on the original battlefield.
Nine thousand members of the public came to watch, many actually coming back again on the second ay. The feedback was outstanding.
So this year, Tillier’s raised significant funds to support the Battle of Cheriton Project Ltd, entertained thousands of local people during three events, inspired nearly one thousand local school children at educational visits and re-created the most authentic civil war battle re-enactment ever. Well done to you all.
The story doesn’t end here though. With the lottery grant gained, the battlefield walk is now going ahead, as is the interactive educational web site. More school visits are planned for 2006 and most recently the battlefield trust has agreed to lead the largest archaeological survey of the site ever undertaken. We may soon be able to pin down the locations of the fighting once and for all.
And finally – did we do justice to the men who fought across these ridges in 1644? We think we did.
We are delighted that our efforts over the last two years have brought enjoyment and added value to people’s perceptions and views on our history. Here are a few examples of the feedback that we have had:
The schools visits drew particular praise from the teachers.
"Thank you very much for organising the superb event in Cheriton. It was absolutely fantastic and the Year 8’s I brought really enjoyed and appreciated the event. Yes, it would be wonderful if we could have a similar event each year and I can give you my commitment that Perins School would support this event annually.”
“What a super visit! It really brought the Civil War alive for the pupils. The timing was also just right as we were teaching the Civil War at the time. Please pass on our thanks to all involved – it was an excellent and memorable learning experience!”
Eloise Appleby, Head of Cultural Services , Winchester City Council has written to say:
“What a GREAT event it was – so well planned and managed; so busy and interesting and so spectacular. I have always been full of admiration for those of you involved in organising this event, but it exceeded my expectations on all counts. I didn’t manage to find you yesterday afternoon, but the Appleby family was there and we all enjoyed ourselves. The choreography of the battle took my breath away, I have to say. It was one of the few times in my life when I felt I had suddenly been exposed to something exceptionally special and rare – and had my brain cranked up a gear in the process. And that’s coming from someone who would once have avoided battle re-enactments like the plague. I was truly impressed by the range and quality of the living history displays, and by the excellent commentary during the battle – had not expected this level of intelligent and lucid interpretation. Many other good touches too – like the food production marquee and animals. And what a hot, hot weekend to cope with.”
Professor Ronald Hutton (pre-eminent historian and commentator at the August Bank holiday battle re-enactment)
“ I have no negative criticism to offer at all regarding your complex, enormous and fiercely ambitious set of events at Cheriton. I thought that they succeeded on every level, and represent an excellent model for one way in which major musters can be provided if the Knot is to continue to flourish.”