9th & 10th August 2025

The Marquess of Winchester’s Regiment of the English Civil War Society is organising a re-enactment event at Picton Castle, The Rhos, Haverfordwest SA62 4AS

This event will feature a recreation of the seizing of the castle by Royalist troops in August 1644 during the English Civil War. Also during the day from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm you will be able to see and talk to knowledgeable re-enactors who can show and tell you about the life and times of civilian and military people of that period. There will be demonstrations of military drill, firing of muskets and artillery, musicians, artisans making their wares and a kitchen preparing authentic food. The full programme is towards the bottom of this page.

Come and try on the armour, see if you can handle a pike, play a drum, or learn how to write your name with a quill pen.
Picton has a large free car park and entrance costs £14.50 (Adults), £39.50 (Family 2+2), £7 Children (5-15), usual concessions and free for under 5s. There is a restaurant and extensive gardens as well as guided tours of the castle.

Programme

10.00 SITE OPENS TO PUBLIC
10:30 Living History Opens
11.15 Exercise of Arms in the Arena
11:45 Kids Drill, in the Arena
12:15 Participants prepare for Attack
12:30 Assault on the Castle door
12:45 Assault complete
1.00pm Dinner for Troops and civilians
1:30pm Officers Dining
(Patrol around the site)
2:15pm ‘Drum Jam’ drummers and music from the Civil War.
2.30pm Exercise of Arms in the Arena
3.00pm Kids Drill, in the Arena
(Patrol around the site)
4.45pm Living History Closes

5.00pm SITE CLOSES TO THE PUBLIC

Historical Background

The date is 1644 and the English Civil War is raging:

Royalist Colonel Gerard was sent to South Wales from Bristol by Prince Rupert to restore Royalist fortunes. By 19 May 1644 he had collected a force of 2,500 horse and foot to begin operations. He marched by Chepstow to Cardiff, which surrendered to him, and took Kidwelly. By 12 June he had entered Carmarthenshire, and before the 18th he had captured Carmarthen. He rapidly siezed Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn, Laugharne and Roch castles and advanced to threaten Pembroke about the middle of July. However the Pembroke garrison sortied and routed a portion of his force.
On 22 August he took Haverfordwest, and then Picton Castle, which the Parliamentarians had made a stronghold. The account reads; ‘about twelve o’clock at night he fell on and stormed it, and mastered it in one hour with the loss of nine common soldiers hurt and taken, but not one officer. In the castle were found three barrels of gunpowder 150 arms, Baronet Phillipps’ son and two of his daughters, and 12 trunks of plate and money. The castle itself is very strong and in good repair’.
General Gerard placed a garrison at Picton and next day marched to Carew Castle near Pembroke, which was also taken, the remnant of the Parliamentarian rebels being now driven just to Pembroke and Tenby. His forces are said to have been largely composed of Irish levies, which were complained about in Parliamentary newsletters. Picton Castle was not recaptured by Parliament until August 1645 after a siege lasting three weeks.Picton Castle Website 

Marquess of Winchester’s Regiment website and Facebook group