HOPES that the re-enactment of the English Civil War Battle of Stamford Hill would take place this year have been dashed.

Bude-Stratton Town Council’s heritage and culture committee last Thursday announced that the ‘battle’ would not go ahead due to an alternative event organised by the Civil War re-enactment society, the Sealed Knot.

The re-enactment did not take place last year because of the cost, and because Bude-Stratton Town Council wanting to focus on events at the Castle.

But there were hopes it would be reinstated this year. Owen May, the president of Bude and Stratton Old Cornwall Society, asked the town council’s heritage and culture committee in January to ‘look favourably at the subject’.

The re-enactment was to be held in May, with the council being happy to fund the event for a cost of up to £2,000 as long as free first aid was provided.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Alan Biggs said of the news that the event will not take place: “This is only for 2016 — it doesn’t mean that there will never be another commemoration for the battle again.

“There will be a meeting, due soon, for plans for the next commemoration for 2017. This year as there’s another event on, a license won’t be granted for the commemoration to take place.”

According to Cllr Biggs, the decision is nothing to do with the town council: “The decision was made by the Sealed Knot, who have to issue a license, and on this occasion they have refused to issue the license for the commemoration. We don’t know what the other event is taking its place, but we cannot proceed with our plans to commemorate the battle.

“The council were very supportive and were willing to give funds towards the event, but it is out of our hands.”

Mr May said: “I’m very disappointed after all the effort and time spent to do it that it will no longer be going ahead. It is a great shame and a great disappointment. It will affect people who would be travelling down to come and visit, especially for the event, and the area will really miss out.

“The feedback I received from the public was very positive. People were planning to come down for the event, and it gave them something to look forward to.

“I have nothing but appreciation for the council. I didn’t know it was likely to happen and I am very disappointed that the Sealed Knot have decided to not approve the event.”

The battle of Stamford Hill took place at Stratton on May 16 1643 and ended in a victory for the Royalist forces led by Sir Ralph Hopton over a larger Parliamentarian force.

The Sealed Knot performs re-enactments throughout the country, based around battles, skirmishes and sieges of the English Civil War.