ROUNDHEADS and Cavaliers will be clashing in Otley next weekend.

The English Civil War will be brought to life when the Roundhead Association stages The Road to Marston Moor on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3.

The event, organised by Otley Pub Club, will see two battles featuring muskets, pikes and cannons staged at Wharfemeadows Park alongside a 'living history' exhibition.

The club decided to arrange the free-to-attend weekend following a visit by TV's Hairy Bikers, Si King and Dave Myers, to The Black Bull in Otley last year.

The pub, or so folklore has it, was drunk dry by Oliver Cromwell's troops on the eve of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 - as the Hairy Bikers discovered during their stay.

The pub club thought such rich local history should be celebrated, so set about contacting the Roundhead Association (part of the English Civil War Society) to see what could be arranged.

Club Secretary Bob Brook said: "After months of planning and lots of seemingly 'last minute' issues we're looking forward massively to this new event on the Otley calendar actually going ahead.

"The weekend will be a mixture of historical education and excitement - not your usual, fact-based book learning type of history but experiencing the real sights, sounds and smells of 17 Century arts and crafts.

"There will be a range of stalls where people in authentic 17th Century costumes will be cooking, basket-making, dyeing, making weapons and furniture, and more.

"And they'll be happy to explain to visitors exactly what life was like for ordinary people, as well as skilled artisans, at the time of the Civil War.

"There will even be cavalry horse on display to show what the battles were like for mounted figures - although there will be no cavalry in the battle itself.

"As for the excitement - the centrepiece of each day will be a one hour reenactment of a battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers, alongside the living history display.

"There will be dozens of pikemen battling it out on the field as well as musket and cannon fire from both sides.

"So while the show will be really interesting to local Key Stage 3 history students, who are studying the Civil War period, it will also appeal to families and individuals of all ages looking for a different day out."

Toilets will be provided but the pub club has made a deliberate decision not to include food and drink stalls in a bid to encourage visitors to get their food and refreshments from the town's businesses.

Sponsored by the club and Punch Taverns, The Road to Marston Moor will run from noon to 4pm on both days, with the daily battle starting at 2pm.

For more details visit the event's dedicated website at secretary741.wix.com/roadtomarstonmoor .