SOME of the greatest battles of the English Civil War are to be re-enacted in front of a crowd of thousands as a highlight of this year's Eye Show.Over two thousand members of the Sealed Knot Society will be at the show during the August Bank Holiday bringing the 17th century to life.
By Jo Macdonald
SOME of the greatest battles of the English Civil War are to be re-enacted in front of a crowd of thousands as a highlight of this year's Eye Show.
Over two thousand members of the Sealed Knot Society will be at the show during the August Bank Holiday bringing the 17th century to life.
In the costumes of cavaliers, musketeers and pikemen, with cannons, horses, drums and colours, the armies of Royalists and Parliamentarians fight on the fields of Eye.
Eye Show director Tim Seeley said Dragon Hill will see the biggest gathering of the Sealed Knot in the UK this year.
He said: "They call it a 'major muster' which means they will be bringing over two thousand members from all over the country, together with artillery, horses, hundreds of tens and tons of equipment."
As well re-enacting battles on August 25 and 26, members of Sealed Knot, which was formed in 1968 to promote historical research and raise interest in the English Civil Wars, will give a living history presentation of life in the 17th century.
As well as the military invasion the Eye Show will also play host to the first full public performance of a brand new concept in motorcycle display riding based on the latest craze in extreme sports – freestyle motocross.
Bolddog Lings Freestyle Team is a nationally-acclaimed team of motocross display team riders. Their display is centred around a specially designed ramp complex erected on top of their articulated transporter.
Other attractions over the two day Eye Show include displays in the main arena by Horses Impossible Chariot Racing, Elaine Hill's Sheepdog demonstration, the Spitfire Tigers Freefall Display Team, Coventry Drum & Trumpet Corps and The Suffolk Junior Cavalry Regiment.
The show is open from 10am to 7pm each day and admission is £7 for adults and £3 for children. Parking is free and the showground is signposted from the A140 at Eye, midway between Ipswich and Norwich.
Weblinks: www.sealedknot.com
www.bolddog.com
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