THE Battle of Naseby was the most battle of the Civil War when,
in 1645, the army of Charles I was destroyed after three years of
bloody conflict, and left the way open for Cromwell and the
Commonwealth.
The battle was fought on the open fields of
Peterborough diocese, and the battlefield is well
preserved. Now there is a plan for All Saints', Naseby, to have a
secure display area for battlefield information, as well as
refreshment and lavatory facilities for visitors.
The scheme was recently launched by Earl Spencer (left in
photo), with members of the Sealed Knot, as part of a
fund-raising programme that starts in the village with a weekend of
re-enactments by the Vikings, the Medieval Siege Society, and the
Bluecoat regiment of the Sealed Knot. There are also talks, walks
round the battlefield, demonstrations, and films.
A joint working party has been formed by the Naseby PCC and the
Naseby Battlefield Project, chaired by the Diocesan Community
Development Officer, Bob Purser, which will undertake a feasibility
study. All Saints' is currently undergoing essential repairs to the
fabric, and will reopen for worship in September. The full project
for the church and visitors' centre is likely to take several years
to complete.