The Naseby Project is an exciting 12-month collaboration between the Naseby Battlefield Trust and Northamptonshire Scouts.

The 14 June 2025 was the 380th anniversary of the Battle of Naseby, a key event in British history and a decisive battle in the English Civil War. The battle was between the Royalist army commanded by Charles I and the Parliamentary New Model Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

During the first decade of Charles I’s reign, he made his own laws without convening parliament. These laws were often about raising money to prop up the Royal finances. In addition, his wife Henrietta Maria, was a Roman Catholic which was viewed with suspicion by the Protestant English. Both of these resulted in Charles I being very unpopular and viewed as only being interested in himself rather than that of his subjects.

Naseby Project
Northamptonshire Scouts will run the Naseby project from April 2025 to March 2026.

The aims for the project are as follows:
To increase the awareness of the young people in Scouting Northamptonshire, in a fun and educational way to:

• become familiar with the Naseby Battlefield location and what happened on 14 June 1645
• learn about the English Civil War and its aftermath
• know the significance that Northamptonshire has played in the development of English history

As a part of the project, we have designed a Naseby Project badge.  The County Lead Volunteer, Steve Rolt, has approved the Naseby badge to be worn on Scout uniforms from April 2025 through to March 2026.

• The badge, combining the national fleur de lys and the official Naseby logo, is a simple but striking design that will stand out on the uniform of all sections. The badge is worn above the left breast pocket.
• The right to wear the badge, needs to be earned by doing three linked activities:
  • Activity 1 – The context of the English Civil War
  • Activity 2 – The Battle of Naseby; and
  • Activity 3 – Outcome and aftermath of the battle
• Check out the resources opposite to see what has been prepared to help you
• Best of all its free! All of the requirements are also on OSM.

 Click here to see the overview of the requirements for the badge for each Section.

The Naseby Project Badge requirements easily links to other Section badges. See further information here.

To obtain your free Naseby Project uniform badge, please contact carole.stephenson@northantsscouts.org.uk.

A full list of Groups/Sections achieving the badge is here.

 

We were part of the Battle
This year on Saturday 14th June, it was the 380th anniversary of the Battle of Naseby. To mark this occasion, there was a re-enactment of the battle involving  270 Scouts.

The Scouts had the unique opportunity of coming to the battlefield site area and walking the route, flags flying, just like the Cavaliers and Roundheads did nearly four hundred years ago.

It was a brilliant day with the Scouts making a marvellous sight acting out the main features of the battle in front of invited members of the public.

The Naseby Battlefield Trust commissioned a video of the event that highlights the involvement of the Scouts.  View the video

Everyone who attended achieved their own Naseby project uniform badge.

 

Bring the Battle of Naseby to your meeting place
There is a fantastic opportunity to know more about ‘Naseby 1645’, by welcoming their Volunteer and Education Officer to your meeting place.

You will find out more about why the battle took, place, what happened on the day and what the aftermath was. You can also get to handle some of the weapons and uniforms used on the day.

Leaders – ‘Naseby 1645’ is a programme on a plate for Cub, Scout and Explorer Scout meetings. They will take over the bulk of your section meeting, you just need to start and finish the evening and keep everyone focused during the presentation.

It’s free! It will also contribute significantly to young people (and adults) earning their Naseby Project Uniform Badge.

The availability of the visits will be published in waves during the year, and it will be a first come, first secured, booking system.

The first set of dates have taken place.   Click here to see images from the March presentations.

The second wave of presentations up until July 2025 have also occurred.

The third wave of booking from September to December 2025 is now open and is an open booking system, where you select the date that you would like the presentation, together with an alternative date, and let us know. We will confirm the booking very quickly.

We also need a Section name, the number of people involved, the address of your meeting place, the time of your meeting, and a contact name and email.

Here is a Risk Assessment to be used when hosting a visit. It is produced to supplement the one you already have for your meeting place.

Please send you booking to carole.stephenson@northantsscouts.org.uk

Click on the right to see how to achieve your Naseby Project badge in the activity boxes.

 

The opportunity to see horses and members of The Sealed Knot up close
Not surprisingly, the Naseby Battlefield Trust has strong links with The Sealed Knot, which is the oldest re-enactment society in the UK, a registered educational charity, and the single biggest re-enactment society in Europe.

One of the trustees of the Naseby Battlefield Trust is also a member of The Sealed Knot and offered a rare opportunity for two visits to local campsites to allow our young people to get close to horses and talk to members of The Sealed Knot in period costume.

The Overstone event in May was extremely successful, with over 300 people attending across the three time slots. As well as seeing the horses, other themed activities appropriate to the Section age range were available to get involved in.

Click here for images of the day 

The second event at SJLC was equally successful, with 250 young people and adults attending over the three sessions.

The themed activities were also back and went down a storm. A number of young people didn’t have the time to do everything they wanted to!

The Naseby project is extremely grateful for all the volunteers that came along to both events to make them so successful.

Neither of the events could have taken place without the full support of Alan Larsen and Rosie Sales, together with their horses.

See an overview of the battle in the below animation (courtesy of Cade Malcomson-Smith).

If you would like more details on the battle, what led up to it, and the aftermath, check out the Naseby Battlefield site Naseby Battlefield site