THE sound of musket fire rang out through the centre of Coleford again on Saturday as the Sealed Knot re-enacted the civil war battle for the town.

The re-enactment marked the 373rd anniversary of The Battle of Coleford, on February 20 1643, when a tiny band of local militia stood fast against a 2,000-strong Royalist army on its way to attack Gloucester.

After three hours, in which a number of Royalists were killed, the King’s forces over-ran the town but found that the small band of Parliamentarians had melted away into the surrounding forest.

The Royalists went on to attack the beleaguered Parliamentarian garrison defending Gloucester, but were eventually driven off by arriving reinforcements.

Councillor Paul Kay, Mayor of Coleford, said a contingent from Hilaire de Riez, the town in the Vendee region of France Coleford is hoping to twin with, was delayed and missed the re-enactment.

“However they did arrive in time for the Civic dinner at Bells Club in the evening, which raised over £3,000 for the mayor’s charity,” he said.

“And in the end the visitors enjoyed a very pleasant weekend.”