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Muskets are being primed and swords sharpened for the fourth annual Pikes and Plunder Civil War festival over the May Bank Holiday.

The free weekender is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the historic royalist town of Newark, which held out against a 16,000 strong Parliamentarian and Scots army for six months in 1645 amidst a bitter power struggle with King Charles I.

Also appearing will be a battery of cannons, including one called Barak, thought to be the biggest of its kind in the world. Such cannons could fire a 10 pound ball over 500 metres.

(Image: Red Zebra Photography © 2017)

Organisers from the National Civil War Centre and English Civil War Society say up to 300 re-enactors will take part, fighting battles and staging living history displays to mark the 372th anniversary of the town’s fall on May 8, 1646.

“Last year’s event caught the public imagination with tremendous battles at the Queen’s Sconce and displays at Newark Castle," said Carol King from the National Civil War Centre.

"We’ve added a few tweaks this year to make it even better. The re-enactors pride themselves on being authentic and will offer a riot of colour, noise and pageantry to capture this fateful time.”

(Image: Red Zebra Photography 2017)

The star-shaped Queen’s Sconce - the finest surviving earthen fort of its kind in Britain - will be fought over by musketeers, pikemen and artillery during the weekend of Sunday, May 6 and Monday, May 7.

There'll be living history displays including blacksmithing, cookery and weaving, while the cobbled Market Place will echo to drills and musket fire.

Stephen Foster, event co-ordinator and commanding officer of Robert Overton's Regiment, said: “Although there are other civil war re-enactments in Britain, there are none like Newark which celebrates a major siege using such an awesome setting as the Queen’s Sconce.

"Together with the castle, it is a permanent reminder of the bitterest war in England's history. It will be an extraordinary couple of days for visitors and for those of us taking part.”

The National Civil War Centre will be open during the festival (from 10am to 5pm) with a display of recently acquired period armour in the new Cutting Edge exhibition. Normal admission charges apply (£8 adults, £7 concessions, £3.50 children).

(Image: Red Zebra Photography 2017)

When was the English Civil War?

It began in 1642 when King Charles I raised his standard in Nottingham to rally support in his dispute with Parliament.

With his armies depleted the ill-fated monarch returned to Nottinghamshire four years later to surrender to the Scots besieging Newark.

After initially refusing the King’s order to submit, the Newark garrison laid down its weapons and marched out of a town afflicted by hunger, typhus and the plague.

The story is told in full at the National Civil War Centre using first hand accounts.

Regiments and groups appearing at Pikes and Plunder include:

Colonel Robert Overton’s Regiment of Foote

The Earl Of Loudoun’s Regiment of Foote

Earl of Essex Regiment of Foote

Colonel George Fenwick’s Regiment of Foote

John Bright’s Regiment of Foote

Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foote

Norfolke Trayned Bandes

Colquhoun’s Company of Artillery

Deane’s Company of Artillery

Baggage Trayne

Lord Hopton's Regiment of Foote

Sir Thomas Tyldesleys Regiment of Foote

Sir Thomas Lunsford's Regiment of Foote

Sir Thomas Blackwell's Regiment of Foote

Colonel John Hampden’s Regiment of Foote

Colonel Nicholas Devereux’s Regiment of Foot

Colonel Valentine Walton’s Regiment of Foote