LIVES lost in the gruesome Battle of Worcester have been remembered.

Yesterday – the 357th anniversary of the 1651 Civil War clash and the 350th anniversary of Oliver Cromwell’s death – costumed re-enactors and history enthusiasts were at the Commandery in Sidbury, Worcester, to commemorate the bloody battle between Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians and King Charles II’s Royalists.

Last night they were due to walk from the museum to nearby Fort Royal Park, where brutal fighting took place and hundreds of soldiers were killed, to hold a commemorative service.

Museum manager Amanda Lunt said it was an apt ceremony.

“It’s a really nice idea to have a service on the spot where fighting took place,” she said.

“We wanted this to be a commemoration not a celebration because the battle was very gruesome. A lot of people were killed and it would have been quite an horrific experience for those involved.”

Elsewhere, Worcester-based education company Discover History held a Civil War Day at the Guildhall, High Street, where a wide range of 17th-century weapons, costumes and artefacts were on display.

Over the past fortnight, events to remember the Battle of Worcester, including guided tours, informative talks and a living history showcase, were held throughout the city.

Mrs Lunt said it had been a huge success, attracting people from across Worcestershire and further afield.