Thirteen of the best pictures from the Battle of Winwick re-enactment

Members of the Battle of Winwick Society revived the history of a major English Civil war fight that took place in Warrington through recreating the path taken by soldiers this afternoon, Saturday.

In August 1648, a defeated Scottish army marched its soldiers south to Winwick from a battleground in Preston.

The Battle of Winwick took place in 1648 (Image: Dave Gillespie)

The re-enactment aims to raise awareness to the battle (Image: Dave Gillespie)

The Battle of Winwick Society formed in 2023 (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Two days later, the weary troops had to fight another major conflict on land close to St Oswald’s Church.

The Battle of Winwick Society formed in 2023 and recreated the walk the soldiers took along the A49 from Preston to Winwick on Thursday and Friday.

Today, they gathered at St Oswald’s Church Heritage Weekend to re-enact the event of the Battle of Winwick.

The re-enactment is part of a heritage event at St Oswald's Church (Image: Dave Gillespie)

The event followed a recreation of the Scottish soldiers walk from Preston (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Scottish soldiers were imprisoned at the church (Image: Dave Gillespie)

“The purpose of the walk is to publicise the events of August 17 to 19, 1648, to make people aware of the national significant of the Winwick battle which contributed to the end of the Civil war and in which the parish church became a prison,” said Paul Wright, society chairman.

“The heritage weekend event will emphasise the church’s role, a place of worship, as a prison for the Scottish soldiers weeks and months after the battle.

“Re-enactors in costume will help visitors understand the situation that had existed in Winwick in 1648.”

Participants dressed up in historically accurate clothing (Image: Dave Gillespie)

1,000 Scottish soldiers died at the battle (Image: Dave Gillespie)

The site was recognised as an Historic Battlefield in 2018 (Image: Dave Gillespie)

The battle was fought on farm land bordering the church on August 19, 1648, in which 1,00 Scottish soldiers were killed.

The battle between invading Scottish troops and Oliver Cromwell’s army was an event of national significance in the English Civil War – a fact which is relatively little known.

It was one of the two major battles fought in the north west, the other was at Preston only two days earlier, which resulted in the end of the war and a final defeat for the supporters of King Charles the 1st. The monarch was executed a few months later.

The battle took place two days after a battle in Preston (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Despite its importance, the battles significance is little known (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Before the re-enactment, visitors enjoyed a talk about the battle (Image: Dave Gillespie)

Philip LePinnet, a member of the Winwick Battle Society, said: "This battle was hugely significant in bringing the Civil War to end. By presenting the re-enactment we want to create an understanding of the importance of the battle and showcase what life was like for the Scottish soldiers engaged in battle and imprisoned at that time.

"We will also provide a perspective of the lives of Oliver Cromwell’s troops. We aim to give an insight to the rank and file of the common soldier and the civilians involved in the Civil wars.”

The event is set to finish at 4pm today, Saturday, but will continue tomorrow between noon and 3pm.