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VILLAGERS hoping to restore their majestic parish church are putting on a 17th century extravaganza this summer.

Famous battle re-enactors, The Sealed Knot, will descend on the village of Steeple Ashton in July and spend the weekend living as the Cavalier and Roundhead soldiers did in 1643, during the battle of Roundway Down.

Visitors will be able to walk around their tented camp, chat to the soldiers about battle tactics in the 17th century and see traditional crafts in action, including a smithy and armour-maker as well as soap and lace making.

A re-enactment of a bloody skirmish that took place near the village shortly after the battle of Roundway Down will take place and there will be drills on the village green over the weekend.

There will also be a children's activity centre and costume competition, falconry and archery demonstrations, music and dance, a farmer's market and a medieval banquet.

The organisers hope to attract thousands of people from all over the county and have arranged for the main road through the village to be closed for the weekend.

John Aeberhard, of the organising committee, said: "We want to mobilise the whole village to get behind this thing and attract villagers but also people from a much wider area - there could be 5,000 or more people there.

"It will be a community effort with the objective of having a fun weekend and learning a bit about history.

"But it has a serious purpose - we hope to raise £20,000 for the church restoration fund."

The massive village church of St Mary's stands as a silent testimony to the wealth generated in the village from the cloth industry.

Built in the late 15th century, it's Bath stone features are slowly crumbling away and the community faces a battle to reverse the affects of erosion before it is too late.

Peter Howard, chairman of the St Mary's Preservation Trust, said: "We hope to raise £20,000 at this event but we really need £300,000 to get it up to scratch.

"We have to do it over the next 10-20 years and we really want to try and make it a community issue.

"It is after all the whole community that benefits from the impact and added value that such a striking building gives to the village."

Jo Campbell, organiser of the fair, said: "We expect that everyone in the village will enter the 17th century spirit and dress up in Stuart costume."

The 17th Century Country Fair in Steeple Ashton is on Sunday July 6 from 10am-4.30pm and tickets are £5 adults and £2 children. Visitors will also be able to wander round the tented camp on Saturday afternoon.

2:04pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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