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Thousands watch Hylton Castle battle
Thousands of families turned out to see Roundheads and Cavaliers do battle in the re-enactment of a famous Wearside conflict.
Enthusiasts gathered to recreate the Battle of Hylton, which took place during the English Civil War in March, 1644.
Up to 2,500 warriors are believed to have died in the encounter, as Royalist forces which had support in Newcastle and the Tyne Valley took on the Parliamentary army, which had control of Sunderland.
Artillery and cavalrymen prepared for almost a week as battle lines were drawn at Hylton Castle.
Mum Lisa McGuinness, of Fulwell, took her six-year-old son Cameron Smith to the event.
"It's absolutely outstanding," said Lisa.
"It's fantastic that there's a free event like this on and I've heard that people have come from all over the country to be involved."
Redby Primary School pupil Cameron said he was excited to "see the swords and guns" used by recreation volunteers in the grounds of the historic castle.
There were fears that the weekend could be a washout, after a large amount of rain fell during last week.
But the skies above Sunderland brightened up on Saturday and Sunday afternoon to welcome the crowds.
Rachel Lacey, assistant organiser and member of the Sealed Knot, who are Britain's biggest re-enactment group, said: "It's marvellous that the weather has improved so that the people of Sunderland can come and see the re-enactment.
"We have had a lad from the English Channel travel up through the night to be here and that shows the dedication. There are people from all over the country who have come here.
"It's not well known that here were a lot of battles in this area during the Civil War, and this is one of the main reasons there is a rivalry between Geordies and Mackems.
"It led to the beginning of the end for Charles I and set Sunderland up as a port."
Coun Denny Wilson, co-organiser and heritage campaigner, hailed the success of the re-enactment, as the council looks to bring Hylton Castle and Dene back into use as a visitor centre.
He said: "The weather is a big factor but the crowd has turned out and the staff have done brilliantly for this first event.
"We hope everybody who comes has had a really great day.
"The main reason is that Sunderland City Council and the Friends of Hylton Castle are hoping to put a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid in to make it a recreation, education and leisure site, which is what we are doing with the re-enactment."
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Heavy sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
