Marching on for mock battle

Cannon and musket fire rang out at Stafford Castle for a major Civil War re-enactment event.

Soldiers and civilians from the period set up camp at the site, which itself saw action during the 17th Century and fought out a series of mock battles.

The weekend’s event also featured the sound of heavy hooves thundering across the hills during a dramatic cavalry demonstration.

But as well as the martial drama, visitors to the event also got to see how Roundheads and Cavaliers lived away from the battlefield when the English Civil War Society re-enacted domestic life from the period. Mark Hartwell, heritage sites manager at Stafford Castle, explained: “We had a living history section, where people were actually able to sit down and see the re-enactors eating and ask them about what it was they were eating and why, so it was really hands-on social history.”

Mr Hartwell said: “The English Civil War Society went down a treat, we had absolutely beautiful weather and we had lots of families roaming around the place throughout the day.”