55 Days @ Hampstead Theatre

Mark Gatiss as Charles I in Howard Brenton's 55 Days.

As a League of Gentlemen fan I was particularly looking forward to seeing Mark Gatiss as Charles I in Howard Brenton's 55 Days at the Hampstead Theatre, and I managed to catch it just before the end of its sell-out run ...

Charles II's escape from Worcester

View Charles II's escape from Worcester 1651 in a larger map
I've used Google maps to plot the route of Charles II's escape from the 1651 Battle of Worcester.

Click here to view it in a larger window.

The journey of over 400 miles would not, of course, have followed straight lines, though the map gives an impression of the doubling-back and sharp changes of direction Charles and his changing band of companions needed to evade capture.

A charming contemporary embroidery commemorating the King's escape (Holbourne Museum, Bath)
Explore more interactive maps

Chess board, thought to have been owned by Charles I, up for auction

The early-17th century amber games board, attributed to Georg Schreiber.

A 17th century amber games board, believed to have been owned by Charles I, is up for auction tomorrow, with an estimate price of £300,000 - 500,000 ...

The View @ Epping Forest

The View visitor centre on the edge of Chingford, north-east London.

The View - the new Epping Forest gateway - has opened. Converted from the old stable buildings from the adjacent mock-Tudor Victorian pub, its displays feature a small section on the ancient Royal forest during the English Civil War ...

Q&A: Teaching the 17th century at A-Level (Stephen Lovell, Central Newcastle High School)

Van Dyck's triptych of Charles I.

History at A-Level is becoming increasingly popular. 51,652* students sat for an A-Level examination in the subject in the summer of 2012, a rise of 10% over the past five years. Each UK examining centre chooses the syllabus it wishes to follow from one of the seven exam boards, and most specifications offer the chance to study at least some aspects of 17th century history.

One school where History is a popular choice at A-Level is Central Newcastle High School. I asked Stephen Lovell, Teacher of History at the independent school for girls, about the challenges his students face when learning about the English Civil War, and how his own Early Modern interests have developed in response to teaching it ...

Military Odyssey 2012

Some great footage from October's Military Odyssey 2012, held at The Kent Show Ground.

List of English Civil War re-enactment groups

Guest blog: New techniques for understanding 17th century siege warfare (Amanda Wynne)

Reconstructing the maximum possible diameter of a spherical bullet using the bowl of an impact scar from St Luke’s church, Holmes Chapel (Image: Dr Paul Bills, University of Huddersfield).

Damage left by the English Civil War is still evident on many castle walls, church doors and elsewhere around the UK. The study of cannon and musket ball impacts has helped archaeologists and historians piece together a narrative of those violent events, but many explanations rely on conjecture or are coloured by local myth.

New archaeological techniques, however, are beginning to provide more scientific explanations of how 17^th century warfare was fought. In this guest post Amanda Wynne explains how laser scanning technology is helping us to more accurately interpret English Civil War sieges - and the benefits the results may have for other fields ...

London: A Tale Of Two Cities - Dan Cruickshank on the 17th century city

Dan Cruickshank follows in the footsteps of John Stow and John Strype, two of London's greatest chroniclers, to explore one of the most dramatic centuries in the history of London.

Bibliography of English Civil War fiction

I've added a list of English Civil War fiction to the Books page. To make it onto the list the events in the novel have to mostly occur anywhere from the run-up to war until the Restoration.

Anything I've missed? And does anyone know when those Nigel Tranter books (see 1970s) were first published?

See the list

Nottingham Castle consultation - deadline 22 Sept 2012

Nottingham Castle. © Copyright Rob Bradford (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Just a few days left to respond to the public consultation (launch the survey) which will contribute towards the potential development of Nottingham Castle. The importance of the site to the English Civil War, however, does not seem to be up for consideration ...

Brentford and Turnham Green walk

One of the Battlefields Trust's explanation boards at Turnham Green, London. View the locations of the Battles of Brentford and Turnham Green on an interactive map.

Marston Moor. Definitely Marston Moor.

Or maybe Naseby.

Though there is Cheriton ... Come to think of it, how about Stow-on-the-Wold?

Each has a claim, though a recent Battlefields Trust walk made a strong case for the Battles of Brentford and Turnham Green to be considered the most significant military event in the English Civil War.

But why do we read so little about them ? ...

English Civil War turncoats in this month's History Today

Browne Bushell being executed after betraying Scarborough Castle to the Royalists in March 1643.

The cover of the September 2012 issue of History Today features an image of Charles I and Cromwell with the title 'Whose side are you on? Civil War Turncoats'. The start of the cover story can be read here.

You can watch a lecture by Dr Andrew Hopper - the article's author - on the same subject here. Dr Hopper was also kind enough to answer a few of my own questions prior to the recent Fairfax 400th Anniversary Conference about the Parliamentarian leader and the Siege of Colchester - the brief Q&A can be read here.

Interactive map: sites of conflict 1642 - 1660

View English Civil War sites of conflict 1642 - 1660 in a larger map
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I've put together a Google map of sites featuring in the English Civil War from 1642 up until the Restoration.

I'm particularly interested hearing of any small skirmishes/acts of violence/destruction that are often overlooked, little known or recently discovered. If you know of any, please send them on (see About page).

Comments requested on Worcester Fort Royal Park bid

Entrance to Fort Royal Park, Worcester. Photo © Copyright P L Chadwick (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Views are still being sought by Worcester City Council on the proposed development of Fort Royal Park.

The park is the site of a Royalist redoubt built during the battle of 1651 ...

Walthamstow witch hunt exhibition photos

The Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow

A few weeks back I popped along to Waltham Forest's travelling exhibition The East Anglian witch-hunt of 1645-47.

Based on the book Witchfinder by Malcolm Gaskill, the display was jointly funded by the council and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) ...

The King's General on BBC radio

Du Maurier's novel was first published in 1946.

An adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's English Civil War novel set in the west country is repeated on the radio and iPlayer this week. Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in 1992, the love story about a paralysed beauty and a reckless soldier stars Cathryn Harrison and Roger Allam.

It's an hour and 36 minutes long and is available on iPlayer until early on Sunday morning. Click here to listen.

Rare 17th century documents up for auction

A number of the documents feature legislation put hastily together in the aftermath of the execution of Charles I and in the immediate months after the Restoration.

A number of rare and important 17th century documents go under the hammer this Thursday.

Mostly printed Acts of Parliament, they include folios proposing support for soldiers maimed during the English Civil War, the establishment of the Post Office in 1660 and a paper (probably) secretly printed by the controversial Royalist Roger L'Estrange ...

'Intrusive' wind turbine to impact on Adwalton Moor

One of one four plaques on Adwalton Moor commemorating the battle of 30 June 1643. © Copyright Richard Kay (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Plans for a wind turbine on the edge of the Adwalton Moor battlefield have been deemed 'intrusive' by Kirklees Council.

The application is still open for public comments, though these must be submitted by 9 July 2012 ...

Talk at the Wallace Collection

Keith Dowden at the Wallace Collection

A talk by Keith Dowden of the Wallace Collection last Saturday focussed on the life of the English Civil War soldier.

The entertaining, hour-long lecture gave an overview of all aspects of a regular trooper's lot, while also throwing up some fascinating details for those with more than a passing interest ...

Rory's English Civil War pub dig

"Sorry sir ... I've reason to believe you've been drinking."

Rory McGrath's recent series Pub Dig visited Banbury in its last episode (series 1, episode 4).

Rory and archaeologist Paul Blinkhorn headed to Ye Olde Reine Deer, where Cromwell reputedly held court during the English Civil War. When not supping the local brew they find time to dig up the beer garden, where - amongst other 17th century finds - they discover a burnt wall, suggesting that fighting in Banbury extended far further than previously thought.

I can't embed the video, but you can watch it here (45 mins).

Rory McGrath's Pub Dig (series)

National English Civil War Centre wins funding!

The bridge over the Queen's Sconce in Newark. © Copyright Richard Croft (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A £3.5m Heritage Lottery Fund bid to establish a National English Civil War Centre in Newark has been approved.

The award will provide the majority of the funding towards the estimated £5.4m project, which will transform Newark's Old Magnus Buildings into the Centre by September 2014 ...

Siege of Colchester map

View Siege of Colchester 1648 in a larger map
Best viewed in a larger window, so click on the link above.

The map above shows the locations photographed for the previous article on the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War. I've also added in the line of the town wall as it would have been in 1648 and the conjectural position of the Parliamentarian lines and some of their larger fortifications ...

Battle of the Gunpowder Mills!

Hampden's gunners join the field ...

The English Civil War descended on the Lea Valley last weekend.

Sir Marmaduke Rawdon's Regiment of Foote met Colonel John Hampden's Regiment of Foote in a fierce Saturday afternoon battle at the Royal Gunpowder Mills ... but who would prevail?

Podcast of Nantwich commemorations

190112 History & Mystery with Tim Prevett on Red Shift Radio - Battle of Nantwich by Tim Prevett on Mixcloud

Red Shift Radio covered the recent Holy Holly Day celebrations, commemorating the 1644 Battle of Nantwich.

Click above to listen to history and mystery tour guide and author Tim Prevett discuss the event. Guests include a couple of the organisers, a landlady from a reputedly haunted local hotel and a representative from Nantwich Museum.

Some site changes

I've made some changes and additions to the site over the past week ...

Fairfax 400th Anniversary Conference

Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (17 January 1612 – 12 November 1671)

A major conference celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Sir Thomas Fairfax (1612–1671) is to be held at the Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester, from 30 June - 1 July 2012.

The event is being organised by Dr Andrew Hopper from the University of Leicester and Dr Philip Major of Birkbeck, University of London. Dr Hopper spared a moment to answer some questions I had about Fairfax's reputation amongst historians and what delegates can expect at the conference ...

Roch Castle restored as luxury retreat

Roch Castle. © Copyright Robin Lucas (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Fancy staying in an English Civil War siege castle?

This one - a couple of miles from Wales's famous Newgale beach - might fit the bill ...

Tracing the Siege of Colchester

Maps of Colchester, old and new.

Update: My interactive map - the companion to this article - can be found here (opens in new window).

A couple of weekends back I managed a quick jaunt around the surviving sites from the 1648 Siege of Colchester.

My guides: the excellent 1997 reprinting of a contemporary siege map produced by Colchester Archaeological Society and the detailed account transcribed in Daniel Defoe's 1722 Essex tour diary ...

Rare Charles I coin to go under the hammer

'... well centred with good detail, possibly the finest known example of this extremely rare siege piece' (Spink catalogue)

A coin minted in 1645 goes under the hammer at auctioneers Spink tomorrow - and could fetch £25,000 ...

The Contested Origins of the British Army, 1645-1704

In this video from the National Army Museum Dr Neil Faulkner, Research Fellow at Bristol University, explores the creation of a mould-breaking 'British way of war' that enabled the British to humble the power of France and win a global empire.

Dr Faulkner explains the struggle during the English Civil War to form armies from the 'middling sort' and Cromwell's success in instilling discipline in his New Model Army.

A full transcription of the lecture - and information on more lunchtime talks - can be found at the National Army Museum website.

English Civil War events this spring and summer

Re-enactors fire their muskets at a London event

Note: this article has now been superceded by the new Events section.

There's a stack of English Civil War-related events planned for this spring and summer.

Talks, walks, re-enactments, exhibitions, 'living history' days: almost every weekend there's something of interest for English Civil War historians and everyone else who wants to learn more about this pivotal, fascinating period (Mar - Sept listed below) ...

The York House Water Gate: Part One - History of the Water Gate

The York House Water Gate, Embankment Gardens, New Year's Day 2012.

A 17th century Italianate arch lies 150 yards from the Thames, weather-worn and hidden between the office blocks.

In its pomp a gateway for kings and courtiers, it marked the riverside entrance to one of Europe's most sumptuous houses.

So how has it come to stand marooned in a park? And how did it survive the centuries?
 

Charles II wanted poster up for auction

A Proclamation for the discovery and Apprehending of Charles Stuart and other
Traytors his Adherents and Abettors (Wednesday September 10th 1651)

'The most important wanted poster of all time' is up for auction in Shropshire next month.

A Proclamation for the discovery and Apprehending of Charles Stuart and other Traytors his Adherents and Abettors was issued by Parliament on the 10th September 1651, a week after the future Charles II fled Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester.

That's not all. Bidders will have the chance to purchase other fascinating 17th century documents ...

Exhibition explores East Anglian witch-hunt during the English Civil War

Update 10 July 2012: I subsequently visited this exhibition; you can view the photos I took here.

An exhibition in Walthamstow, east London, explores the witch-hunts that happened in the east of the country during the English Civil War.

The East Anglian witch-hunt of 1645-47 runs until March 25th 2012 at the Vestry House Museum. There are also a few special events taking place between now and the end of the run ...

English Civil War events this half-term

Ashby Castle, Leics - a Royalist stronghold until 1646, when it was finally captured and slighted. Photo:  © Copyright Trevor Rickard (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ashby Castle, Leicestershire - Sat 11th February to Sun 19th February
Note: NOT OPEN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY 14th and 15th. All other days from 10am to 4pm. Take a step back in time to the English Civil War, find the clues, then discover the facts before deciding which side you support!

http://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/whats_on/2012/02/11/ashby_castle_roundheads_and_cavaliers

Worcester - Sat 18th February

Re-enactors present their now annual Living History event, this year at two venues, The Guildhall on the High street and Tudor House Heritage Centre in Friar Street. English Civil War re-enactment events at The Guildhall, while The Tudor House will become a 17C Tavern – The Cross Keys Inn, set during the period of the occupation of Worcester just before the Battle - 3rd September 1651.

http://www.visitworcester.com/moreinfo.asp?type=whats&id=2827

Ashdown to become patron of CMSM

Lord Ashdown had become a patron of the Combined Military Services Museum in Maldon, Essex - the home of one of the best English Civil War collections in the UK  ...

National Civil War Centre at funding bid stage

A computer-generated impression of what the Centre might eventually look like. Image: © Campbell & Co.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has submitted a further bid for £3.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to establish a National Civil War Centre in Newark.

The bid is the second stage of the process after the council was awarded £200,000 to develop the proposals ...

The King's Army Parade @ Whitehall

The King's Army ride out from Horseguards' Parade

The annual parade of the King's Army at Whitehall in London was held today. The King's Army (the Royalist part of the English Civil War Society), is allowed to march down the Mall to Horseguards Parade every year to commemorate the execution of Charles I ...

The Sealed Knot at Holly Holy Day 2012

The Sealed Knot in Nantwich 21.01.12 celebrating Holly Holy Day 2012. See more at SuperSteveJO's Channel on YouTube.

The Guardian's film about the history and organisation of Holly Holy Day

Churches still bearing battle scars

St John's, Devizes. The church was in use as a gunpowder store in July 1643 when it
 was hit by the Roundheads' grapeshot. Photo: Brian Robert Marshall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photos of English parish church exteriors where English Civil War damage is still visible ...

Wind turbines to blight Naseby landscape

They don't look happy either. Photo: Dirk Ingo Franke (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A wind farm will be built near Naseby battlefield, despite fierce opposition.

Energy company Eon won their appeal to erect six 400ft turbines on the Kelmarsh Estate after local residents, Daventry Council, English Heritage and the Battlefield Trust had all warned that views of the battlefield site will be severely compromised ...

Repair work to begin at Newark Castle

Newark Castle. Photo: David Ingham (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Newark Castle, partially destroyed by the siege of 1645-6 - the third and final siege of the English Civil War - is undergoing a structured series of repair works.

The recommendations were made after two areas of the castle grounds were fenced off to the public due to risk of falling masonry ...