Welcome to the Donnington Castle Garrison
Welcome to the Donnington Castle Garrison, the local Newbury and West Berkshire arm of Earl Rivers Regiment of Foote. We are part of The Sealed Knot Society, the largest re-enactment organisation in Europe. Our Garrison represents the historic Royalist defenders of Donnington Castle and brings seventeenth century history to life right here in Newbury.
The Garrison was first raised in 1973 and has been active in the Newbury area for more than forty years. Most of our members live within fifteen miles of Newbury town centre. We are a genuinely local group with strong community ties, welcoming anyone from Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford, West Berkshire and the surrounding villages who wants to take part in living history.
Our displays and activities cover the full range of English Civil War re-enactment. Visitors can see Pike, Musket, Cannon, Drum and period military drill, as well as civilian roles, crafts and demonstrations. The Garrison appears regularly at Donnington Castle, Shaw House and locations across Newbury and West Berkshire. We also take part in larger national events with The Sealed Knot, joining thousands of members to recreate battles and living history scenes across the UK.
Throughout the year we run training days, school visits, heritage talks, living history weekends, skirmishes and full battle re-enactments. Each season begins at Shaw House or Donnington Castle, our historic home, where we welcome new members and help them get started in the hobby.
Joining The Garrison
When you join the Donnington Castle Garrison, you become part of the Garrison itself. Every member portrays a role that reflects what a seventeenth century garrison soldier or civilian would have done at Donnington Castle. Your role shapes your experience, your training and the activities you take part in. This is living history, and every role helps bring the Garrison to life for visitors across Newbury and West Berkshire.
We include children and young people in all our activities. The Garrison runs an Apprentice system for members up to 15 years old, allowing them to take part safely in age-appropriate roles that match real garrison duties. Apprentices train alongside the adults, learn period skills and help demonstrate daily life within a working seventeenth century garrison.
We work only with companies and businesses local to Newbury. Our displays, materials and community projects are supported by local suppliers, local craftspeople and local organisations. This keeps the Garrison rooted in the town it represents and strengthens our ties with the Newbury community.
Garrison Military Roles
Musketeers Carry matchlock muskets, take part in firing displays and defend the castle walls.
Pikemen Form defensive blocks, protect the colours and hold the line during assaults.
Artillery Crews Operate period cannon and demonstrate siege defence and battlefield gunnery.
Sappers and Pioneers Show how fortifications were built, repaired and maintained during a siege. This includes making gabions, the large wicker baskets used to protect artillery positions and strengthen defensive works.
Sentries Guard the camp entrance, challenge visitors and demonstrate garrison security.
Provost Marshals Maintain discipline, oversee camp order and interpret seventeenth century military law.
Camp Civilian Roles
Camp Victuallers Cooks, bakers and brewers who keep the Garrison fed and demonstrate period food and drink.
Tailors and Cobblers Show clothing repair, leatherwork and the crafts that kept a garrison supplied.
Barber Surgeons Demonstrate early medical practices, battlefield care and period health.
Blacksmiths and Armourers Repair tools, weapons and equipment, showing essential trades of a working garrison.
Scavengers and Foragers Demonstrate how supplies were gathered, collected and rationed during wartime.
Laundresses and Domestics Show daily life inside a defended garrison community, including washing, mending and camp duties.
join us today & step back in time!
Curious about joining us?
Whether you're drawn to the field with a pike, musket, or drum, or prefer civilian life or behind the scenes support, there's a place for you in Earl Rivers' Regiment.
We welcome all ages, all backgrounds, and all experience levels.
Take part for just £10, with kit and clothing provided.
Head to our Join Us page to find out more; your first event will be friendly, exciting, and a brilliant way to step into living history.