Guest blog: Civil War Oxford (Vanessa Moir, civilwaroxford.co.uk)

The interactive map showing locations associated with court officials, university members, townspeople and guests during the English Civil War (image copyright: civilwaroxford.co.uk)

Vanessa Moir created civilwaroxford.co.uk after being inspired by her university studies and her experience of living in the city. In this guest blog she explains more about its interactive features, the primary sources she's working with, and her plans for the site's future ...

London in the 17th century

A three-dimensional fly-through of 17th century London produced by a team of De Montfort University students recently won the prestigious Off the Map challenge.

The nationwide competition is sponsored by game developer Crytek, and runs in conjunction with the British Library and GameCity, a Nottingham Trent University initiative celebrating video game culture.

Click on the video above to see the winning entry.

More about the project
More articles on 17th century architecture

Leicestershire in the English Civil War

View Leicestershire in the English Civil War in a larger map.
The map above shows garrison locations, sites of skirmish, and other relevant points of interest in the county. If there are any others I've missed, please get in touch.

View the map in a larger window
More English Civil War interactive maps

London's English Civil War defences 1642-3

View London's English Civil War defences 1642-3 in a larger map.

"And it was also Ordered that there should be Bulworkes presently raised in the Fields before the Citty, to Fortifie the same against any Invation ..."

A Continuation of Certain Speciall and Remarkable Passages 

24 October 1642

Fear that the king and his army were marching on London in October 1642 sent the capital scrambling to fortify itself. The start of November saw the city digging defensive positions, with more forts, ramparts and ditches completing the ring of defences over the following year.

Click on the map markers above to see the conjectural positions of the fortifications (view in larger window) ...

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

Interactive map: sites of conflict 1642 - 1660

View English Civil War sites of conflict 1642 - 1660 in a larger map
Launch large map in new window

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).

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 ...

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?
 

Inverkeithing dig to establish location of 1651 battle

Memorial cairn for Sir Hector Maclean, killed at the Battle of Inverkeithing in 1651
(Paul McIlroy) / CC BY-SA 2.0

A dig at a site though to be that of the Battle of Inverkeithing (1651) hopes to uncover more about the last major battle of the Civil War on Scottish soil ...

Hopton Castle re-opens

Hopton Castle - hold cursor down and pan to view surrounding area. View larger Map
Hopton Castle has finally re-opened after maintenance and conservation work - the culmination of a 16-year project to restore the site the infamous English Civil War siege ...

A trip to Ripple Field

Old Nan's Hill, Ripple, where Waller and his men arrayed before the battle

A recent trip to the Forest of Dean afforded the opportunity to visit a number of Civil War landmarks.

Following Prince Maurice's stalking of Waller near to the Welsh border my trip took me through the villages of Little Dean and Highnam before arriving at the village of Ripple in Gloucestershire - the site of the Prince's  first telling blow against his nemesis ...

York skeletons confirmed as English Civil War dead

Google map of the excavation site on the junction of Fawcett Street/Kent Street, York, prior to re-development. View larger map
113 skeletons found in York have been proven to be from the English Civil War siege of 1644.

Scientists from BBC History Cold Case conducted a series of tests on the bones, which were found at the junction of Fishergate and Kent Street after a routine rescue excavation in 2007-8 ...

Mystery leaflet claims threat to Nantwich battle site

The mystery leaflet ...

Guerrilla English Civil War enthusiast fights to save battlefield ...

Maybe. But who else might be behind the anonymous leaflet heralding the 'Second Battle of Nantwich', which recently fell through local residents' letterboxes? ...