Cannon fire at Chippenham English Civil War re-enactment

The event, at Monkton Park throughout Saturday and Sunday, recreated the 17th Century Royalist forces marching from Chippenham and on to Devizes.

Elizabeth and mother Helen who teach attendees historical games. (Image: Charlotte McLaughlin) During the re-enactment, which was organised by the English Civil War Society, in association with Chippenham Town Council, soldiers fired muskets, pikemen demonstrated charging at the enemy and cannons were fired across the park. 

At one moment on Saturday, the loudness of a cannon did manage to set off a car alarm, which was easily rectified by a member of the English Civil War Society. 

The Smart family, made up of children Eddie, Hugh, and Elizabeth, and mother Helen, have been regularly attending the events and teaching attendees about history through the games people would have played at the time such as the card game, 31. 

Husband and wife Wayne and Becki Lawrence. (Image: Charlotte McLaughlin) Mrs Smart, an volunteer and invigilator at a local secondary school, said: "My husband did it when we met, and he said, 'Oh, you come along'. That was, like, over 20 years ago, actually it was my 20th year this year."

The 43-year-old from Chippenham also said that those wanting to take part in the future "can choose which regiment you join and which side you want to be on the side of", either a Parliamentarian or a Royalist. 

She added that her "husband was a royalist, and therefore I am a royalist", and explained that during the Civil War ordinary people would have to support their local lord.  

"This is just a small taster event," she also said. 

The Smart family: Elizabeth, Helen, Hugh and Eddie. (Image: Charlotte McLaughlin) "We did a large event (in).. 2022, there was a large battle, and we're back next summer in July, for another large major muster.

"We have the full battle, with all the guns and cannons."

Husband and wife, Wayne Lawrence, 66, and Becki Lawrence, 47, who live in Trowbridge, have been doing re-enactments for more than two decades, and met through the historical events. 

Mr Lawrence, who is originally from Chippenham, said he "loves dressing-up", and "travels all over England" to do English Civil War Society events. 

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Coming from outside Wiltshire was brother and sister, Ian Redfern, 51, a Derbyshire car mechanic, and Caroline Hollands, 53, an supermarket worker from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. 

The English Civil War Society is a national non-profit making organisation and all the members are volunteers.

They will return to Chippenham in 2026, to host a huge battle and living history encampment from July 25 to July 26.