Steeped in more than 2,000 years of history, Gloucester has plenty to inspire budding historians to take a journey back in time and discover the intriguing story of the city's past conflict.
Encouraging visitors and residents to gain appreciation for what came before them, The Folk of Gloucester brings the Siege of Gloucester to life — with re-enactments, musket displays and educational talks for the whole family to explore.
The siege took place in 1643, during the first English Civil War, when King Charles I planned to take control of the Severn Valley from the Parliamentarians. Gloucester declared support for the Parliamentarian cause against the King.
Between 30 and 40 people were killed during the siege, with the opposing side losing approximately 1000 troops.
Organised in collaboration with Gloucester Civic Trust, and taking place on Saturday 31 August 2024, a whole host of activities will be available throughout the day, bringing attention to the events of the siege.
The Siege Doctor pays a visit to bring traditional medicines into 2024, inviting children to select a condition from the past and set imaginations running wild as the doctor describes how they would've been cured during the siege.
Head to Jack LeRoux's fascinating display of muskets as he encourages spectators to respect and acknowledge the power of traditional weaponry.
Andy Frape from Taynton Metal Detectorists will be highlighting a collection of objects found in Gloucester and the surrounding area from the time of the siege and tells tales of family life in the 1600s.
Plus, catch a series of talks pointing out different areas of the siege, with re-enactors giving life to characters of the conflict; alongside artwork depicting reconciliation and exploring children's awareness of conflict in all its forms.
The event kicks off at 10am with activities coming to a close at 4pm — please note that the event is free to attend, but each talk costs £5 per person.
Gloucester Civic Trust is a charity that relies on donations to keep organisations like The Folk alive and accessible for people in the city and beyond, so anything given is always gratefully accepted.
For more information, visit gloucestercivictrust.org/the-folk-home.
