This is an utterly unique hobby, and you’re bound to have lots more questions about it. On this page we’ve tried to answer as many of the most regularly asked questions we can think of ... but if you have more, click on the button to the right and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Do you all stay ‘in character’ all weekend and speak ye olde English?

No, we don’t have ‘characters’ and we don’t pretend we’re really from the 17th Century - when we’re off the battlefield, we’re just ordinary people having fun with our friends. Some of us do a bit of acting at smaller events, which is great fun, but our interaction with the public is as normal people who just have a passion for what they do.

Do I have to wear all those silly clothes?

If you don’t want to go on the battlefield, then no. But what you’ll soon find is that those in modern dress look like the odd ones out! The clothes are actually a great social leveller - when you’re all dressed up it produces a great camaraderie between everyone.

Do women have to be wenches?

All roles in the regiment, including pikemen and musketeers, are open to both men and women.

Do I have to sleep in a 17th Century tent and quaff mead?

No, our members use modern tents or camper homes and caravans. The beer tents at our events sometimes have mead, but you’re more likely to find modern beers, lagers and spirits than flagons of ale!

Do I have to fight for Parliament?

Although we are a Parliamentarian regiment, we don’t actually think we’re fighting the war all over again and which side you’re on isn’t that important - what’s more important is that you get on with the people in your regiment. But if you’d prefer to fight with the Royalist army, we can warmly recommend our friends in the Marquess of Newcastle's Regiment of Foote.

The battles look very dangerous…

All members are covered by the Sealed Knot’s third party insurance. If you’re not keen on going into battle, there are non-combatant roles or you can help support the regiment off the battlefield too.

But I don’t know anything about the English Civil Wars…

When they joined, neither did most of our members! Many didn’t join because they were interested in the history - they joined because of the great social side of being in Manchester’s. If your knowledge of the period only stretches as far as knowing Oliver Cromwell had warts, don’t think you’ll feel left out - you don’t need to know anything about the period to take part and there are no tests at the end!

Doesn’t this just glorify war?

We don’t just re-enact war - we also bring the lives of ordinary people back from the past, demonstrating the jobs and personalities of the 17th Century. Re-enactment is a hobby, first and foremost. The Sealed Knot exists to commemorate and re-enact the English Civil Wars, one of the most tumultuous periods in British history when the modern constitutional monarchy that we know today began to develop. Many people died because of the wars, both on and off the battlefields that litter the country, and we feel it is important that those sacrifices are remembered and honoured. What we do doesn’t glorify war, in fact we hope it brings home just how devastating the wars were and keeps alive the memory of those whose struggle and deaths helped win us the rights, freedoms and privileges we now enjoy.

I’d like to have a go but don’t want to commit to joining up...

That’s easy - a temporary membership means you can attend one event to try it out. For just £12 (or £17 for a family) you are guaranteed a free weekend’s camping, a very warm welcome AND you get to take part! And if you join up, the £12 gets deducted from the cost of your full membership! Contact us now for details.

So go on, join up now and give it a go - you really don’t know what you’re missing!