AFTER questions were put to them about the cancellation of the Battle of Stamford Bridge this year, the Sealed Knot told the Post there was no way ‘we could ever consider walking away from Stratton’.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge, more familiarly known as the Battle of Stratton, was a famous English Civil War battle, taking place in Stratton, Bude, on May 16 1643.

The battle ended in victory for the Royalist forces, led by Sir Ralph Hopton, and ended with a sour defeat for the Parliamentarian force, who was considerably greater that the Royalists, yet lost with 300 killed and around 1,700 men taken prisoner.

The Sealed Knot Society, an English Civil War reenactment organisation, has been involved with Stratton for some time. However, with the event for the Battle of Stratton being cancelled again this year as well as last, it has raised some concerns for the future of the commemoration for the battle.

“Historically, it marks the real emergence of the Cornish foot and the ascendency of the King’s forces in the West,” said Ian Bailey, the director of the Sealed Knot. “Our challenge lies in how we have to put our national events together.”

He explained how events are divided into three categories – large, medium and small.

There are around three to four large events that are held a year, which are attended by most of the membership and mainly coincide with bank holiday weekends.

Other smaller events are usually avoided on the weekends before and after the large events, as this usually encourages a larger turnout from members of the society.

Mr Bailey then noted how this may not always be a convenient policy, but it works well for the sponsors and members.

He added: “Sadly, the proposed date for Stratton this year coincides with one of these weekends, and hence we are not able to support this date this year.

I say ‘this year’ as there is no way we, the Sealed Knot, could ever consider walking away from Stratton. It’s just been too important to us over many years.

“Currently, Stratton is a small event. It’d be fantastic if in the future, a way could be found — with the help of our sponsors — to do this another year as one of the large events. This would give the battle the prominence and commemoration it truly deserves.”

The events director for the Sealed Knot Society has already been discussing with a local organising team alternative dates to possibly allow the event to go ahead this year, but nothing is definite yet.