Visitors to Ely this weekend will find out just what life was really like for the city s 17th Century population as an English Civil War encampment comes to the city. Oliver Cromwell s House will be at the heart of the activities with demonstrations and

Visitors to Ely this weekend will find out just what life was really like for the city's 17th Century population as an English Civil War encampment comes to the city.

Oliver Cromwell's House will be at the heart of the activities with demonstrations and re-enactments in all the rooms to show the experiences, problems and work those living 400 years ago faced.

There will be a military encampment set up on St Mary's Green, 17th century medical remedies demonstrated by a barber surgeon and a fashion show revealing clothes of the time. Visitors will then be able to end their trip with a puppet show recounting the story of the English Civil War.

Tracey Harding, Tourism Team Leader for East Cambridgeshire District Council said:

"On Saturday morning, Oliver Cromwell House will go back to the time of the English Civil War. There will be real life actors who will look, speak and behave like they are from the 17th Century and visitors will have the chance to talk to them and ask questions.

"Throughout the day, our new little battalion of the New Model Army will perform drills and armour movements throughout the day outside Oliver Cromwell's House. Inside there will be more people going about the daily lives as if they were really from 400 years ago. Rooms will come alive with story telling, a barber surgeon will show how leeches and herbs were used for medical purposes, an dpeople dressed in costumes of the time will give talks about how and why they wore what they did. It certainly promises to be an exciting weekend and offer a real insight into our past."

Entrance to Oliver Cromwell's House costs £4 for adults, £3.60 for concessions, and £2.95 for a child - a family ticket consisting of two adults and three children costs £12.