Preview: 17th Century Encampment at Hoghton Tower (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Preview: 17th Century Encampment at Hoghton Tower

9:10am Friday 28th May 2010 in

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The flash of steel, smell of gunpowder and the roar of the cannon will help recreate life in a military encampment at Hoghton Tower on May 30 and 31.

With cannon, musket, sword and pike, the living history encampment will show what life may have been like in the 17th century.

As well as military history, displays also include cooking in the 17th century, complete with bubbling cauldrons to feed the troops.

The real gentrified inhabitants of the fortified house, the Hoghtons, were involved in the disputes between Parliament and the King, with father and son fighting on opposing times.

Sir Gilbert Houghton was a staunch Royalist and helped raise soldiers for Charles I.

He led assaults on both Blackburn and Whalley, where residents favoured Parliament’s cause.

In February 1643 Hoghton Tower was besieged by Parliamentary troops and the powder magazine in the old pele tower exploded killing 100 Parliamentary men. The central tower was never rebuilt.

Sir Gilbert lost the will to continue fighting after losing his son, Roger, in 1643, while his eldest son and heir, Richard, was fighting for Parliament.

* The 17th Century Encampment is at Hoghton Tower on Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31. Admission £3 per person including car parking. House open for guided tours Sunday 1.00pm—5.00pm, Monday 11.00am—4.00pm, additional charge £3.00 per adult, £2.00 concessions and children. Tearoom and giftshop open.