During the bank holiday weekend, Kelmarsh Hall played host to the Sealed Knot, who bring 17th Century history to life.

As well as re-enacting The Battle of Naseby, the organisation's displays gave visitors a chance to find out what life was like in the 1640s, through living history exhibits.

Some 1,700 soldiers, both on foot and horseback, took to the battlefield as Cavaliers and Roundheads to recreate the battle, which saw the Parliamentary army defeat King Charles I's forces.

Rodney Howe, a lieutenant with the Sealed Knot, said: "Visitors can see, as far as possible, a recreation of The Battle of Naseby. It's very thrilling to watch.

"Recreating the battles is good fun but hard work. We learn the skills of the time and also about the heritage. It's a family activity.

"Members of the public have been saying they enjoyed watching the battles."

The Bottrill family, from Desborough, visited Kelmarsh to watch the battle being re-enacted.

Mum Janine, aged 37, said: "Our son, Casey, loves anything to do with battles and swords. From a historical point of view we do like to support things like this, so they keep reliving these events."

Casey, aged eight, said: "I'm looking forward to seeing the battle. I like living so close to such a famous battlesite."

Elizabeth Lovering, aged 59, from Delapre, Northampton, said: "I have three grandchildren and they have learnt quite a lot about how the people lived at that moment.

"It's helped them understand it and capture it in an interesting way, so it's really good."

The Naseby Battlefield Project is working to build a heritage centre to mark the importance of The Battle of Naseby.

John Kliene, from the project, said: "We are trying to promote the idea of developing this as a major heritage attraction. To do that we need lots of people to understand the importance of The Battle of Naseby."

The Battle of Naseby was fought in June 1645 in Naseby, Sulby, Sibbertoft and Clipston.

The Royalist army was destroyed in the battle, the outcome of which meant an autocratic monarchy could never again rule Britain.