What We Can Offer

The Sealed Knot is renowned for its battle re-enactments, however that isn't all we can offer. As well as battles big and small, we can provide living history camps, drill demonstrations, guest speakers for groups including schools, film and TV performances, memorial parades, marches, honour guards (we have on several occasions accompanied the Sheriff of York during the Assize of Ale an ancient tradition to test the quality of the beer being served in York's public houses!), and we contribute as a society to commemorations and keeping English Civil War era artefacts in this country. We can tailor what we do to the size of the venue, facilities available or budget.

Both nationally and at a local level, the Sealed Knot has many experienced event organisers who work alongside the venue, sponsors and local authorities.

Testimonies

"The pupils really enjoyed the visit from the Sealed Knot. To see 'real' costumes of the day as well as weapons makes it a more realistic educational experience rather than just reading about it in a text book or watching a DVD. The presenter was charismatic and held the pupils attention for the full hour, which is a difficult task with teenagers! It was an extremely enjoyable experience as well as educational."
Bill Smithson, Hetton School

"The Sealed Knot event was a great success - it engaged the children and offered them a rare opportunity to see and touch historical artefacts. A great session that was well researched and fun"
Hannah, Academy 360

"I attended Biddick Sports College when the Sealed knot gave they presentation on three classes of year eight pupils, prior to meeting the pupils the group talked to history teachers to assess the children's understanding of the English Civil War, this enabled them to pitch the presentation at the right level. The pupils and staff present really enjoyed the factual presentation, which ended with details of the forthcoming event been promoted and each pupil was given a flyer to take home. The young people really enjoyed been allowed to handle the guns and equipment and fully interacted with the group. It also cause quite a buzz throughout the school seeing people in period costumes walking about the school."
Councillor Dianne Snowdon

"The Sealed Knot were a huge success on the day. They engaged with pupils all afternoon (there was always a throng around their stall) and there was a lot of interest in their costumes and weaponry. Our pupils asked lots of questions and there was a lot of interest in the full event at Hylton Castle."
Kris, Hudson Road School

Join Us!

Sealed Knot musters are held on most weekends during the summer, all over the country.

There are lots of different reasons for joining a re-enactment group. Some people already have an interest in the historical side, but many other people join knowing very little about the history of the times. The good thing about this experience is that participants get to take pleasure in their experiences just like the way they enjoy their cheap holidays in Spain, or in Canada, or in other countries with rich cultures, and at the same time learning the interesting history of the English Civil war. Others may have a particular skill to offer, for example as craftsmen (or women), pioneer or as cavalry.

Members are encouraged to attend as many musters as possible, although nobody is being forced to turn up, especially to those musters that are further a field. Anybody without their own transport will usually be helped to get to events – not having a car is not a bar to joining the Sealed Knot.

At many events you will camp with your own regiment in 'plastic camp' (tents, caravans, trailers tents and motorhomes), and at points around the site will be food traders (from fried breakfasts to healthier options such as baked potatoes and soup, to Sunday lunches. The bigger the event, usually the wider the choice), first aid points, water points and toilets. At bigger events there will be traders selling kit, sewing supplies, patterns, armour, bags, utensils etc. Most regiments have drill practice on Saturday and Sunday morning (Sunday and Monday usually at Bank Holiday events), and some events also include memorial marches or parades through the nearest town.

There will be a living history camp at some sites if you want to be totally authentic, you can buy (or make) an authentic style tent and join them (or even use it on plastic camp), but still stay a part of Glemham's. Arrive Friday night, set up and meet with friends for a chat and a drink, if you need a hand setting up someone will always help if asked, or if you look like you are struggling!

Occasionally small events will have communal sleeping area, for example the annual event in Nantwich at the end of January uses a sports hall for everyone, but this is not the norm and communal sleeping is not everyone's cup of tea. Of course you can also stay at a nearby B&B, some people have to do this because of health problems or just a love of comfort, and will still be welcome to come and socialise with Glemham's in the evening!

On the campsite you are free to come and go as you like, just make sure you have your membership cards with you if going off camp. At major musters there will be a beer tent with live entertainment some nights.

At major musters there will be Traders Row where you can buy kit and food vendors so make sure you have some cash handy - no cash machines are available on camp as yet.

In Glemham's we make everyone welcome - young or old, single or whole families (after all children are our future pikemen/musketeers/artillerie): be prepared to enjoy yourself and mix with other like minded people. We have barbecues, campfire singsongs, a monthly pub meet in York (open to all regiments) and get togethers over the winter.

Be warned, it can be addictive!

Events throughout the year include:

• Major Musters usually on Bank Holiday weekends, attended by the majority of musters and include cavalry and artillerie;
• Large minis, with plenty of foot soldiers but less artillerie and cavalry;
• Booked mini, a small version of the large mini where booking is essential as numbers are restricted by the facilities available;
• A regimental event will be the number of people in one regiment;
• A march usually includes a service to remember the fallen of the associated battle, and can have any number of people attending including musicians and sometimes cavalry;
• Last Sunday in June or first Sunday in July (nearest to July 2, anniversary of the battle) Arthur Starkie Memorial March at Marston Moor;
• Second Sunday in December Beverley (East Riding of Yorkshire) one day street skirmish;
• As our sister society Northern Historic in the north east of England and in Scotland, mainly covering the late 18th century (including the Golden Age of Piracy) but we've re-enacted everything from late Tudor to the Battle of Trafalgar era.