The Sealed Knot (reenactment)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sealed Knot is a British historical association dedicated to costumed reenactment of battles and events surrounding the English Civil War. It takes its name from the original Sealed Knot, a secret association aimed at the restoration of the monarchy, although the modern incarnation states that it has none of the political affiliations of its namesake. Apart from reenactment, it is also involved in research into the history of the Civil War, and education (at the school or college level) about the same.
The Sealed Knot is a registered charity, and has its own coat-of-arms. It is the largest re-enactment society in Europe and was formed by the late Brigadier Peter Young, a respected military historian and World War II veteran, and a small group of friends on 28 February 1968 following the publication of "Edgehill 1642 - the Campaign and the Battle". Within a few months it had 200 members and today has a membership of several thousand.
With its large membership and high profile the Sealed Knot is the largest, most well known of all the many re-enactment and historical groups and societies in the UK.[1]
[edit] Social Aspect
There is a huge social aspect to this organisation. Walking around the campsite it is possible to stop just about at every other tent to have a chat to old friends that you haven't seen since the last muster (Re-enactment). After a hard days fighting, and maybe a few miles walking in full armour, most of the people gather to the beer tent, aptly named for the selling of beer amongst other beverages, and they socialise until they can't take any more and usually roll into the tents, caravans or campervans in the early morning. Many members have met their life partners in the Sealed Knot and some of the first generation Knotters are having their own children now. There is a great sense of belonging in the Sealed Knot, as everybody looks out for each other. Parents let their children go out and play with the other children around because they know if another Knotter saw a person in normal clothes coming over to children dressed in period costume they would intervene and make sure the children are safe, so the children have the best of both worlds - protection and the ability to run free.
