THIS year marks the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, a foiled attempt by conspirators to assassinate the King of England and Scotland during the state opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605. One of the events to mark the anniversary, is a civic banquet at Kidderminster's Caldwall Castle and Manor.

ALICIA KELLY speaks to Richard Davies, owner of Caldwall Castle and Manor, about the historic building's links to the Gunpowder Plot.

REMEMBER, remember the fifth of November is just what guests gathering at Kidderminster's Caldwall Tower will be doing on Saturday - exactly 400 years after the Gunpowder Plot was foiled.

They will attend a civic banquet to mark the anniversary at the apt venue, which was once home to Thomas, Robert and John Wyntour, who were all hung, drawn and quartered for their involvement in the plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Richard Davies, owner of the remaining tower of the medieval castle, has invited dignitaries including the mayor and mayoress of Kidderminster, councillor Peter Dyke and councillor Helen Dyke, and Wyre Forest's MP, Dr Richard Taylor, to dine under the watchful eyes of Robert Wyntour, whose portrait hangs at the castle.

The Wyntour brothers belonged to the wealthy Worcestershire family that owned Caldwall in the 16th century, when the estate stretched from the centre of Kidderminster to the West Midland Safari Park.

The family suffered persecution as Roman Catholics and faced crippling fines by the Protestant Government of the day.

Like many other Roman Catholics of the time, the brothers believed the situation would improve when James I, who had a reputation for religious tolerance, came to the throne. This was not to be.

Brothers killed as traitors

The disillusioned Thomas joined forces with another Worcestershire landowner, Robert Catesby, the ringleader of a plot to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate the King and his Government.

Thomas travelled to Europe to recruit the famous mercenary, Guy Fawkes, and he also helped excavate the tunnels under Parliament, used to transport barrels of gunpowder.

His elder brother, Robert, was among a number of landowners from Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire involved in the plot.

Famously, the plot failed. An anonymous letter tipped off the authorities and on November 5, 1605, Fawkes was discovered in a cellar underneath Parliament.

The other plotters fled to the Midlands where, at a shootout at Holbeche House in Staffordshire, Catesby was among those killed and Thomas Wyntour was one of the men captured.

In January, 1606, Thomas and Robert were found guilty of high treason and hung, drawn and quartered at St Paul's, London.

Their younger brother, John, also believed to be involved, met the same fate at Redhill, Worcestershire in April.

Today, the plot is a major part of Britain's history and Mr Davies, who has owned the tower since 1997, hopes the banquet will help promote the local connection.

"The Gunpowder Plot planned to destroy the Government and monarchy of its day.

"If it had been successful, the whole of Britain would have been changed in every respect," he said.

"There aren't many buildings with such close links to it where you can sit down to a banquet to mark the occasion."

Four hundred years might have passed but Mr Davies believes Worcestershire folk are still happy to stand up for what they believe in.

"I think there is a conservatism that still lurks in this area, where people are not prepared to go with the flow.

"They are prepared to stand up for what they think is important," he said.

Mr Davies is planning an open day at the castle in the new year where visitors will be able to see Robert Wyntour's portrait.

A commemorative tea towel will also be on sale for those who want to remember, remember the fifth of November, 2005.