For two days in May, 15 and 16, historic Stratton again echoed to the beat of drums, tramp of feet, crack of muskets, thunder of guns and smell of gunpowder as members of the Sealed Knot mustered to re-enact the Battle of Stratton between Royalists and Parliamentarians.

It was the first decisive battle of the English Civil Wars. Wars which split husband from wife, set brother against brother, father against son and made enemies of friends. For us, over 360 years later, it's impossible to grasp the sheer emotional impact and the violent sundering of families ties and loyalties that the wars had.

The battle began at dawn on Tuesday, May 16, 1643. 'Hedgehogs' of Royalist pikemen moved into the attack, with support from musketeers and light artillery including cannon fire. Saturday, May 15 saw the Sealed Knot (The society of Cavaliers and Roundheads.

One of two main civil war re-enactment organisations in the UK) march through Bude to the castle grounds, the Bude/Stratton Town Mayor and dignities inspect the troops, and then both armies formed at Stratton car park for march to battlefield.

The battle commenced at 3pm which then led to Sunday's wreath laying to mark the fallen. Other events over the course of the weekend included,

history camp, a hog roast, a pike drill and a Sealed Knot recruiting station.