The 11th of October 2003 and this was the 360th anniversary of the Battle of Winceby. The historical re-enactors have ridden up from Old Bolingbroke to Winceby to re-enact the battle.
The UK Battlefields Resource Centre, created by the Battlefields Trust, has, "The Battle of Winceby is one of the lesser battles of the civil war, with no more than 6000 troops engaged." It goes on to say, "Its significance far outweighs its scale. For Parliament’s Eastern Association army from East Anglia this was their first major campaign. It was also the first nationally important victory for Cromwell’s cavalry and the first action in which he fought side by side with Sir Thomas Fairfax, with whom in the New Model Army he would finally destroy the royalist cause in 1645-6.
In this battle, which lasted no more than half an hour, followed by many hours of pursuit, the parliamentarians destroyed a combined force of royalist cavalry and dragoons from Lincolnshire and Newark. The victory was so swift and complete that the Association infantry did not even have time to engage the enemy. The outcome was the fall of much of the county of Lincolnshire to parliament and a halting of the royalist ascendancy in the region.
The battle was fought on the high ground, where the route from royalist garrison at Lincoln via Horncastle to the besieged royalist garrison at Bolingbroke crosses the Lincolnshire Wolds. Although the general location of the battlefield is certain, the exact place where the action was fought within Winceby parish is still open to dispute."
Sir Thomas Fairfax’s account of this engagement is as follows:
“Chusing a convenient ground to fight on, we drew up the army there. The enemy did so on the side of another hill close by, having a little plain betwixt us. Lieut.-General Cromwell had the van and the reserve of horse, and my Lord Manchester all the foot. After we had faced one another a little while, the forlorn hope began the fight; presently the bodies met in the plain, where the fight was hot for half an hour, but we forced them to a rout. Above two hundred killed, and two thousand taken prisoners. This was the issue of the Horncastle fight, or, as some call it, Winceby fight.”

This image was taken on the adjoining grid square to where the actual battle took place on 11th October 1643, and this was the 360th anniversary.

The re-enactors have grouped to do 'battle', but there's the matter of respecting those who actually died in the real conflict, 360-years-ago. A two-minute-silence was held.

The re-enactors chat amongst themselves, ahead of the two-minute-silence. There's a 'battle' to be played out very shortly, between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. 360-years-ago, Oliver Cromwell nearly came to grief here when his horse was shot from under him.

It was the two-minute-silence in honour of those who died for their cause, 360-years-ago. Not only was there silence, but the horses never moved. It was all very emotional.

I was intrigued by the helmet at centre, it looks lethal for the wearer. On another note, I wonder if there were any female soldiers in the Civil War.

Musketeers on the march. A 360-year-old re-enactment.

Civil War re-enactment of a battle which took place on 11 October 1643.

Here, on the 11 October 1643, a close quarters battle, which lasted for half-an-hour, ended with the massacre of fleeing Loyalists, who were cut down by the pursuing Parliamentarians.
The UK Battlefields Resource Centre, created by the Battlefields Trust, has, "The Battle of Winceby is one of the lesser battles of the civil war, with no more than 6000 troops engaged." It goes on to say, "Its significance far outweighs its scale. For Parliament’s Eastern Association army from East Anglia this was their first major campaign. It was also the first nationally important victory for Cromwell’s cavalry and the first action in which he fought side by side with Sir Thomas Fairfax, with whom in the New Model Army he would finally destroy the royalist cause in 1645-6.
In this battle, which lasted no more than half an hour, followed by many hours of pursuit, the parliamentarians destroyed a combined force of royalist cavalry and dragoons from Lincolnshire and Newark. The victory was so swift and complete that the Association infantry did not even have time to engage the enemy. The outcome was the fall of much of the county of Lincolnshire to parliament and a halting of the royalist ascendancy in the region.
The battle was fought on the high ground, where the route from royalist garrison at Lincoln via Horncastle to the besieged royalist garrison at Bolingbroke crosses the Lincolnshire Wolds. Although the general location of the battlefield is certain, the exact place where the action was fought within Winceby parish is still open to dispute."
Sir Thomas Fairfax’s account of this engagement is as follows:
“Chusing a convenient ground to fight on, we drew up the army there. The enemy did so on the side of another hill close by, having a little plain betwixt us. Lieut.-General Cromwell had the van and the reserve of horse, and my Lord Manchester all the foot. After we had faced one another a little while, the forlorn hope began the fight; presently the bodies met in the plain, where the fight was hot for half an hour, but we forced them to a rout. Above two hundred killed, and two thousand taken prisoners. This was the issue of the Horncastle fight, or, as some call it, Winceby fight.”
Courtesy of local farmer Gerald Enderby, the commemoration was held at what is thought to be the centre of the historic battlefield on the exact 360th anniversary, down to the actual hour itself. It was organised by EventPlan on behalf of the Friends of Bolingbroke Castle and Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire, featuring a talk about the battle by respected Lincolnshire historian David Robinson, tactical displays by members of the English Civil War Society, parade and wreath-laying by the Chairman of the 'Friends', Steve Lumb. Betty Brammer, author of 'Winceby and the Battle', was also present, as was a descendant of one of the original villagers present at the time of the battle, and a large number of onlookers.

The 1643 battle that left much of the county of Lincolnshire in the hands of the Parliamentarians.

The Fairfax Battalia - A re-enactment group which recreates military and civilian life of the 17th century. They are re-enacting an infantry company based on Sir Thomas Fairfax's New Model Army 1st Regiment of Foot. Here they are in the rout yard working with EventPlan, directed by Howard Giles, a former resident of Old Bolingbroke. Behind them a cannon is being set up on the earthwork.

The Fairfax Battalia ride through the village boundary to the Parliamentarian camp; an arable field of farmland let to grass. The riders have just come down from a battle with the Royalists at Winceby. Across the road another field is used as a car park.

Some, if not all the horses for the event, were provided by Stable Stars, which has been split into two companies.

Filming the action. The event was spread over three days.

A group of re-enactors take a brace of cannon down to the lower end of the rout yard. They are walking past the earthwork, said to be an earth fort.

Parliamentarians have fired off a round at the Royalists, who are holed-up in the earth fort, and are quickly reloading. The Roundhead's camp can be seen positioned beyond Back Lane, in a field.

The Royalist's battle against the Parliamentarian's outside the Royalist's earth fort.

As the battle intensifies, smoke from the cannon fire spreads across the rout yard. The re-enaction was staged by EventPlan and was directed by Howard Giles, a former resident of the village.

Royalist musketeers on the castle walls, are firing on Parliamentarians attacking the earth fort in the rout yard.

Dragoons head up the rout yard.

Musketeers and pikemen group together.

A dragoon momentarily looses control as a musketeer lets fire on the earth fort.

The battle is over for the day and the armies reform their ranks to line up and salute the large and appreciative audience.
This image, amongst others of mine, appears on the EventPlan website, but is incorrectly attributed to Steve Lumb.

In total, if I remember correctly, about 250 extras took part in the re-enactment, staged by EventPlan. Check out the dates for events this year and 2011 - Link

Battle over, the Royalists and Parliamentarians make their way to their respective camps and will resume fighting next day.

That's the trouble when you've done playing, you've got to put your toys away.
The crowd disperses having lined the embankment, which runs alongside Hagnaby Road.

A casualty of 'war'.

Battle over, the dragoons head up the rout yard to take the exit onto Hagnaby Road. This exit has since been removed, but not necessarily with permission.

Musketeers and pikemen have finished for the day, but have it all to do again tomorrow. An excellent display.

A temporary bridge was built across the dyke on the south side of the rout yard and these musketeers exited there.

The big gun leaves. The pieces of wood were a spiked barricade.

Dragoons pass what used to be a way into the rout yard. I've no idea what happened to it, but it was a convenient way in.

17th century fashion.

A cannon placed in defence of the castle. This gun is moved around on four wheels, the rear ones having been removed prior to the battle.

Business end of a cannon.

The cannon at the castle wall has been raised up on a timber platform. Its rear wheels stand nearby.

The smoothbore cannon, first appeared in the early 14th century. It took on its classic form at the beginning of the 17th century and remained as such to the mid-19th century, when it was superseded by the breechloading rifled gun.

The smoothbore cannon, first appeared in the early 14th century. It took on its classic form at the beginning of the 17th century and remained as such to the mid-19th century, when it was superseded by the breechloading rifled gun.

The smoothbore cannon, first appeared in the early 14th century. It took on its classic form at the beginning of the 17th century and remained as such to the mid-19th century, when it was superseded by the breechloading rifled gun.

With their forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, vise and file, blacksmiths made agricultural tools for farmers and iron rims for wheelwrights. They also repaired many iron objects. For the householder, blacksmiths cast, bent, welded, and riveted fireplace racks, pothooks, locks, utensils, and decorative wrought iron. They also made weapons for war.

The Royalist encampment on Bolingbroke Castle.

Filming one of the re-enactors, in the castle.

Re-enactors in their various styles of uniform.

Howard Giles of EventPlan, directing the re-enactment - Link
Behind him is a former butcher's shop, which caught fire when a stolen car was set alight next to it.

Royalist encamped on Bolingbroke Castle.

The gunpowder waggon.