Last Saturday and Sunday - 19th & 20th June - 800 Civil War re-enactors from Fairfax Batalia descended on St. Ives to perform a mock {1645 circa} battle. It was all part of the 2010 ongoing celebration, to mark the historic 900 year old charter of this sleepy little market township. Fairfax Batalia are known for their high standards of performing with historical accuracy and imparting events in an educational fashion to the public. I thought it especially good for the children. They also set up a living history encampment. Here are some photos of the blacksmith. See that apple on the table ? I was hoping he would roast it on the fire for me. I was feeling a bit peckish.
The tent and workspace of the cane crafter. He was most likely taking a siesta in his tent.
Not sure what it was this gentleman does. He had food on that table but acted very busy so I dared not bother him to ask. I suppose he sold food. I'm very shy when I take photos and tend not to bother people.
He scripted and she wove baskets. I loved the man's costume - he really looked the part.
Here comes the militia. The costumes were highly authentic and the performers were really having fun with it. I looked really hard but Russell Crowe was no where to be found. Aye, aye, aye, so disappointed !
I assume those wooden baubles are carriers for gunpowder.
The charter of St. Ives was granted to the Abbott of Ramsey by King Henry I in the year 1110. It allowed the Abbot to hold a fair at Slepe for eight days each year. Back in 1110 St Ives was still known by its Anglo-Saxon name, Slepe. The St Ives 1110 charter is a few centuries older than the nearby townships of Huntingdon {800 year old charter} and Godmanchester {900 year old charter come 2012}. The granting of the charter is the moment Slepe changed from a village to a town.
The discovery of a stone coffin, which the Abbot of Ramsey insisted contained the body of the Persian bishop St Ivo, led to a change of name for the town. This discovery increased revenues for the abbot because pilgrims flocked to visit the saint. History does not explain why a Persian bishop might have been visiting a tiny place like Slepe.
The firing of cannons for this performance was quite impressive - the noise reverberated into my ribcage and made myself and all the little children next to me, jump like sissies with every ka-boom ! A hundredtimes louder and certainly more kick than my retired, puny Browning 410.
This looked a bit painful. Don't think I'd care to be the man in the centre of the dog pile.
It looked to be real gunpowder charges the actors were firing. I love the grimace on the one man's face.
There they go again. Ouch, grunt, ugh !
The celebration also included a mock "blowing up" of St. Ives Chapel Bridge and a wreath laying ceremony at the feet of Oliver Cromwell's statue in the Market Square.
I felt very privileged to witness this epic event - a once in a lifetime celebration !!
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