THE AROMA of chicken bathing with mushrooms in a boiling pot above a raging fire was only slightly overtaken by the more pungent smell of gunpowder drifting from the battlefield.

The relative serenity of the campsite seemed a million miles away from the twisted and contorted figures fighting to the death and upholding their honour only yards away.

It seemed like another world and indeed it was.

The "living campsite" and the battle were part of a show put on by The Sealed Knot Society, which tours the country re-enacting the life, times and battles of the English Civil War, which took place in the 17th Century.

Within the society -- which boasts some 6,000 members from all ages and walks of life -- there are various companies which either fight for the King (Charles I) or Cromwell and Parliament.

Represented at Witton Park over the weekend in the so-called Battle of Blackburn was the Sir Gilbert Hoghton's Companie of Foote, a royalist army that was drawn from around Hoghton Tower. The battle they were recreating was against the Parliamentary army of 1648 in what was called the Battle of Sabden Brook, in which the Roundheads claimed victory. Although very different from the actual battle and a lot less bloody, these band of volunteers took to the re-enactment with a sense of ferocity which had the gathered crowd looking on in awe.

Cannons roared, horses galloped, wooden pikes clashed against shield and armour to create a tremendous cacophony of sound. And in the name of authenticity it wasn't just the soldiers who took to the battlefield. During conflicts such as this, the troops would need cooling off which would be the jobs of the dutiful women, who would drag carts of water behind the armies.

Rosslyn Coleman, from Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, played the part of one of these water-women tending to her husband Ben who was one of the royalist pikemen on the battlefield.

When not fighting for King and Country Ben is a security guard with TNT, in Ramsbottom and Rosslyn a secretary.

"Ben has been involved for five years and I've been coming for about four," said 25-year-old Rosslyn, looking resplendent in 17th Century dress. "We both love it, it's great to get away from everything."

Most of the Sealed Knot members stay on site during their frequent tours.

Some opt for 21st Century camping and comforts although the hardier of the bunch immerse themselves in 17th Century culture for the duration. A tiny town of duck-canvas tents sprang up at Witton Park.

SEEING THE POINT: Pikemen aim their fearsome weapons at the foe for the Battle of Sabden Brook, while in a quiet moment Sean McLoughlin helps young Sam Botterill, of Hillside Walk, Blackburn, try on some Roundhead armour in the Living History camp