HUGE crowds descended on The Abbey Grounds this weekend for a variety of Medieval activities, including a battle re-enactment.

With the Abbey 900 Festival now in full-swing, the Regia Anglorum re-enactment society took centre stage on Saturday and Sunday following on from the success of The Plantagenet Medieval Society’s visit in May.

One of the highlights of the two-day stay in the town was a special performance influenced by the destruction of the abbey itself in 1142.

This came about as a result of the war of succession between Empress Matilda and her brother Stephen.

The Formal Battle for Cirencester commenced at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, while other activities on both days included a falconry display and weapons training.

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown visited Cirencester on Saturday especially for the re-enactment, and while in town he headed over to the Parish Church to place a brick in the LEGO Abbey.

Corinne Lamus, head of the Abbey 900 steering group, said: “He was very interested in the reason behind the Abbey 900 Festival and the purpose in building a replica of how we think the Abbey would have looked in the 1400s.

“He thought educating the community and our visitors in the town's heritage in a fun way and gathering a legacy fund to enhance the Abbey Grounds for the future was a good reason for the festival.”

Corinne said over 1,500 people watched the battle re-enactment alone on Sunday.

“The crowds flocked in over the whole sunny weekend to enjoy the entertainment,” she added.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

L to R in photo: Tony Curry, Corinne Lamus (chairwoman, Abbey 900), Rev Katie Richardson (Abbey 900), Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and Doreen Newman and Karen Webber (Abbey 900 LEGO stewards)