STEP back in time this summer as Chepstow Castle comes under siege again for the first time since 1648.

Running on 7th and 14th July, the event will allow visitors to experience the thrills of the last siege of the castle 370 years ago.

Re-enactment company the Sealed Knot will relive the siege and its fighting. As well as marches, battles, and cannon fire, there will be musical entertainment and continuous living history displays outside the castle.

The event is supported by the town council and the Chepstow Society.

The English Civil Wars in the 17th century saw many changes of fortune, and Chepstow Castle changed hands many times between the forces of Parliament and those loyal to King Charles.

By early 1648, the Parliamentarians were in charge, but in May that year it was retaken by Royalist forces led by Sir Nicholas Kemeys. Oliver Cromwell and his troops marched from Monmouth and forced entry to Chepstow through the Town Gate, but failed to take the castle. Cromwell soon marched on to Pembroke, leaving his man, Colonel Ewer, to lay siege to the castle.

Ewer set up cannon on the slopes opposite the castle, and, two weeks after the start of the siege, began bombarding it. Though some of Kemeys’ men wanted to surrender, Kemeys himself refused.

The bombardment continued, the walls were breached, and Kemeys himself was shot and killed. The Royalist prisoners were taken and kept under guard in St Mary’s Church before being sent on their way.

This year’s events begin on Saturday 7th July at 12pm, with Sir Nicholas Kemeys and his men marching from White Lion Square beside the Town Gate, down the High Street with drums beating, to gain entry to the castle and raise the flag above its battlements.

The main event is on Saturday 14th July, when Cromwell’s men led by Colonel Ewer will march through the town to retake the castle.

After being addressed by Cromwell himself, the troops will lay siege to the castle, with guns blazing. When Kemeys refuses to surrender, the attackers will charge in through the castle gate. The prisoners will be marched out and taken to the church, where they will promise not take up arms again, and be released. 

The living history displays will start on Saturday morning with the march starting from the Town Gate at 1pm, the skirmish at the castle gate at about 2pm, and the events concluding at 4pm.

For further details of the arrangements, contact Keith James on kp.james@btinternet.com or telephone 01594 529713.