Marlborough's next mayor is planning to start her tenure with a bang.

The Battle of Marlborough took place in 1642 but current deputy mayor councillor Kim-Marie Cleasby is planning to bring history back to life in 2024.

Cllr Cleasby will take over from councillor Nicholas Fogg next year, but is sticking to tradition and history by proposing a re-introduction of the civil war re-enactment event.

It would involve around 1,000 members of the English Civil War Society, all dressed in period costume.

If it goes ahead, it will not be the first time that locals have seen soldiers marching through the streets of Marlborough.

The town also hosted a civil war re-enactment day in 2014 and again in July 2019, which was hailed as a great success.

Speaking about her latest proposal, Cllr Cleasby said: “I have heard many people from all levels of our Marlborough society speak of happy reminiscence, and pride in previous events.

“We have seen, particularly in previous years, that an event which involves the whole town has many beneficial effects.

“This event would stimulate knowledge and pride in our historically significant town. Tourism revenue would be enhanced, not just for that weekend, but also for the following tourist season."

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Soldiers riding through Marlborough High Street.Soldiers riding through Marlborough High Street. (Image: Marlborough Town Council.)

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: The 2019 event was a huge success.The 2019 event was a huge success. (Image: Marlborough Town Council)

The Battle of Marlborough took place in the winter of 1642, as Parliamentary soldiers battled against King Charles I and his Royalist troops, and lost.

"Once again the town lost the Battle of Marlborough...but what a fantastic weekend that was!" A spokesperson for Marlborough Town Council said about the 2019 event.

Most of the battle took place near the village of Aldbourne, just outside of Marlborough.

The 2019 re-enactment event cost approximately £16,700 in total, and £11,000 of this was funded by  the Town Council.

But with the current cost-of-living crisis and the cost for goods and services increasing since 2019, cost has been a big factor in this latest proposal.

“If we are intentional about sponsorship, and creative about income, producing ticketed events at any part of the weekend, it will be very successful in both income and intangible benefits," said Cllr Cleasby.

The event will also require a huge amount of councillor time.

Members of the town council are currently considering Cllr Cleasby's proposal and will vote this month on whether the event - pencilled in for July 2024 - should go ahead.