BOLTON'S historic Ye Olde Man and Scythe pub will be the centre of attention tomorrow with an extravagant commemoration of the execution of the Seventh Earl of Derby.

Being billed as the "biggest event organised by a pub in Bolton", the centre-piece of the commemorations is a street theatre production called Crimson Cries the Croal, re-creating the events of 1661 when the earl's widow Lady Charlotte returned to Bolton 10 years after the execution.

The earl escaped from Bolton to the Isle of Man as a result of the Civil War but then returned to England.

But all Royalists were classed as fugitives and he was captured, tried and sentenced to execution.

The earl is reputed to have spent his last few hours inside the Man and Scythe on October 15 1651 before he was taken out into Churchgate and killed. Historic reports say that the Bolton public cried and prayed as he was executed.

In 1661 Lady Charlotte came to Bolton to honour her husband's name and bring peace and reconciliation.

From 1pm tomorrow a procession including 'soldiers' in costume from the Civil War Society will gather near the River Croal at Churchbank.

At 2pm the procession will arrive at Bolton Parish Church for a blessing before marching up Churchgate to the Man and Scythe.

Outside the pub 'Lady Charlotte' will be seated being painted by the artist Artemesia.

The procession will then go into the pub where 'Lady Charlotte' will read a monologue in the lower vaults bar before seeing the seat where her husband last sat.

Finally 'Lady Charlotte' will go outside to the site of the execution scaffold before returning to the Man and Scythe again.

Then there will be a symbolic dance of reconciliation.

The street theatre has been written by local drama teacher Jean Rees.

Through the afternoon from 3pm there will be 17th century music and a 17th century banquet (buffet style) until 7pm.

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