Escape of Charles II to be recreated by riders

A group of re-enactors on horseback plan to recreate one of the most famous moments of the English Civil War.

In September 1651 the man who later became King Charles II was forced to flee after defeat at the Battle of Worcester, hiding in the branches of a tree along the way.

On Sunday, members of the Worcestershire Cavalry group, along with descendants of members of the original royal party, will retrace part of that route.

They will be joined by riders from the British Horse Society and the South Staffordshire and District Bridleways Group, who want to highlight the importance of safe access for horse riders on roads and bridleways.

The Worcestershire Cavalry group stages re-enactments from a range of time periods and described the original ride as "one of the most dramatic episodes in British history".

Hunted by Parliamentarian forces, the 21-year-old future king set off on a six-week journey across England, before finally escaping to France.

On the way he is said to have hidden in an oak tree at Boscobel House on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border and the commemorative ride is due to start there.

Taking on the roles of Charles II and members of his trusted entourage, they plan to take a 10-mile circular route, stopping at Chillington Hall, the ancestral home of one of the Royalist families, the Giffards.

The ride is expected to take about three hours, starting at 10:00 BST and finishing at 13:00 BST at Boscobel House and Gardens.

Julie Allman, from the Worcestershire Cavalry, said it was a "wonderful opportunity to bring one of the most remarkable stories in British history to life".

She described the escape as "an extraordinary feat of courage, endurance and loyalty" and recreating it would be "a very special occasion".

The route will take the riders down Foxes Lane to the Chillington Hall Estate, and after a brief stop for drinks and photographs, they will continue down Monarch's Way and country lanes to Hubbal Grange and White Ladies Priory.

When they return to Boscobel House they are due to finish their ride beside the Royal Oak.

The group said that as well as promoting road safety, it wanted to draw attention to the state of parts of Monarch's way, which they said was becoming inaccessible to riders.

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