Date

Times

Activity/display

Saturday 29 April

2.50pm

General Poyntz and party march from the castle to the Governor’s House, escorted by elements of the castle garrison.

3pm

The Royalist Governor of Newark rebuffs a formal Parliamentarian summons to surrender. Performed outside the Governor's House (now the Bakers Oven cafe) just off the market square.

Sunday 30 April

11am

Living history opens with "Meet the protagonists" - Key Parliamentarian and Royalist characters introduce themselves. Staged inside the castle.

12.20pm

The besiegers parlay at the castle and seek to persuade the defenders to surrender.

11.30am

Truce ends - the siege begins with an official opening.

11.45am

Preacher's Service within the siege lines

Noon

Exchange of cannon and musket fire/skirmish against Royalist outworks

12.15pm

Royalist soldiers form up and march to town centre

12.30pm

Royalist drill display in town centre.

12.30pm

Informal truce with Royalist outpost/ Parliamentarian drill display at siege lines

1pm

Cavalry and dragoon demonstration at the siege lines.

1.15pm

Parlay and truce. Officers from both sides dine within the castle

1.30pm

Children’s drill at the castle and siege lines.

2pm

"Meet the protagonists" (as 11am)

2.20pm

Parliamentarian officers (above) retire to their siege lines

2.30pm

Truce ends: Bombardment to & from castle, and skirmish against Royalist outworks

3pm

Children’s’ drill in the castle and at the siege lines

3.15pm

The Royalists attack the siege lines. Followed by an exchange of prisoners and trial of a turncoat.

3.45pm

Bombardment to & from castle

4pm

Skirmish against Royalist outworks

4.15pm

Collection of dead/wounded/ parlay and truce

5pm

Living history closes

Monday 1 May

10.00am

Local children, accompanied by a party of Royalist Soldiers, will march into town from Beacon Hill.

10.15am

Massed Royalist and Parliamentarian troops form up at the castle and march to the town square.

10.30am approx

The children and soldiers (above) join a commemorative parade in the market square with soldiers from both sides. Followed by wreath-laying at St Mary Magdalene Church. Click for the text of Charles Kightly's eloquent speech.

11.10am

Living history opens with "Meet the protagonists" - Key Parliamentarian and Royalist characters introduce themselves inside the castle.

11.20am

The besiegers parlay and once again seek in vain to persuade the defenders to surrender.

11.30am

Truce ends - the siege resumes!

Noon

Exchange of cannon and musket fire

12.15pm

Royalist soldiers form up and march to town centre

12.15pm

Teasing the Royalists – Parliamentarian Colonel Grey’s luncheon party under fire, at the siege lines.

12.30pm

Royalist parade & drill display in town centre

12.30pm

Informal truce with Royalist outpost/ Parliamentarian drill display at the siege lines

1pm

Cavalry and dragoon demo at siege lines.

1pm

Royalist troops return from town centre.

1.15pm

Parlay (across the river) and truce. Officers from both sides dine within the Parliamentarian siege lines

1.30pm

Children’s drill at castle and siege lines.

2pm

"Meet the protagonists" (as 11am). In the siege lines.

2.20pm

Royalist officers (above) retire to the castle

2.30pm

Truce ends: Bombardment to & from castle, and skirmish against Royalist outworks

3pm

Children’s’ drill at the castle and in the siege lines

3pm

Royalists quietly filter reinforcements to outpost.

3.15pm

Royalist counter attack. Afterwards, prisoners are paraded/some paroled/some recruited into Parliamentarian army. Brief trial and execution of a turncoat.

3.45pm approx

Messengers arrive at the castle (and siege lines) with news of the captive King Charles’ order for the castle to surrender. Castle defenders debate what to do/declare they are ready to surrender.

4.15pm

Formal surrender in castle grounds Parliamentarians take control of the castle.  Defenders paroled/ some reenlist in Parliamentarian army.  Remaining garrison march out and the Siege lines begin to come down.