A MEDIEVAL battle which saw thousands of men slaughtered is set to be recreated by primary school children.
Children from three schools will be taking part in the event to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Neville’s Cross, on Wednesday.
It is being organised by Dream Community Charity, which is currently involved with a project to bring the medieval priory of Beaurepaire, near Bearpark, back into use by local residents.
Rebecca Watkins, who is running the project, said: “We’ve been going to schools since September as well as working on the site and we’ve been teaching them some of the local history, as well as preparing them for battle.
Dream Community Charity is leading a project to make Beaurepaire, in Bearpark, more accessible
“They have really loved it - at the minute they all want to be archaeologists and historians.
“If we teach them how important it is to look after heritage sites and if we make it real, hopefully they will want to be inspired to look after it in the future.”
Children from St Joseph’s in Ushaw Moor, Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs in Esh Winning and New Brancepeth primary schools are taking part in the event, which takes place at Beaurepaire.
They will be armed with wooded swords and shields and will be wearing medieval-style tabards.
Ms Watkins added: “I think they look quite authentic. It should be good fun.
“Hopefully it won’t be a single day but could become an annual event bringing history alive.”
The battle re-enactment starts at 3pm at the priory and will be followed by a medieval feast, entertainment and ceilidh dancing.
Members of the public are welcome to join in the festivities and are asked to bring food to share.
Wednesday is the anniversary of the battle, which took place on October 17, 1346, and was part of the Hundred Years’ War and Second War of Scottish Independence.
An invading Scottish army of 12,000 men was led by King David II, who was captured during the battle hiding under a bridge across the River Browney.
The English army, led by Lord Ralph Neville, saw few losses while up to 3,000 Scots are thought to have been killed.
Beaurepaire, which was build in the thirteenth century, was destroyed by the Scots and rebuilt in 1346.
The project to rescue the ruins started earlier this year.
So far volunteers have cleared the site of many of overgrown brambles which had been preventing access.
It is hoped the local community will be able to look after the site and will set up a research group to find out more about its history.
The charity is trying to raise money to fund the project. Visit www.gofundme.com/dreamcommunitycharity to find out more.
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