Bradford’s history as an under siege homestead of 2,000 people during the English Civil War was relived at Bolling Hall Museum.

It was a small cloth-making town in the 17th century when the hall became the headquarters of King Charles’ armies that pillaged the townsfolk during two attacks, in 1642 and 1643.

The smells, sounds and sights of troops preparing for battle at the historic hall, then owned by the Tempest family, were re-created over the weekend to familiarise new generations with the story.

Members of the Earl of Newcastle’s Regiment of Foote of the Sealed Knot Living History Re-enactment Society gave free demonstrations of firing canons, the use of pikes, swords and muskets, and military drills. Inside the hall, women and children busied themselves, cooking and cleaning for the men, many of whom spent the days after their second siege of the town in drink and in the company of prostitutes.

Read more on this story and other weekend events in Monday's T&A.