New research on London's English Civil War fortifications: a Q&A with David Flintham (FRGS)

George Vertue’s 1738 plan of London's English Civil War fortifications.

David Flintham (FRGS) is an expert on London's English Civil War fortifications (readers may remember the guest blog article David wrote for me on siege types). David got in touch recently with news of a major archaeological project that he's been involved in, investigating the fortifications (also known as the 'lines of communication'), the findings of which were published in the Winter 2021 issue of London Archaeologist.

A paper introducing the project and summarising its initial findings will shortly be available at https://www.vauban.co.uk/the-ecw-defences-of-london. After reviewing the key research findings, I asked David about the significance of the project's discoveries, which challenge assumed knowledge about the location and purpose of London's fortifications ...

Where was Prince Rupert's House?

A watercolour of Prince Rupert's Palace in Beech Street, Barbican, from the garden (1796). © The Trustees of the British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

I knew that after fleeing into exile in 1644 Prince Rupert had a naval career before returning to England after the Restoration, but was surprised to find that one of his private houses survived into the 19th century.

Or did it? This was meant to be a post about the building's location and architecture, until I started digging a little deeper ... 

Scenes and Traces of the English Civil War by Stephen Bann (2020)

 

The Economist reviewed Scenes and Traces of the English Civil War by art historian Stephen Bann this week. The first paragraphs mention Hubert Le Sueur's equestrian statue of Charles I in Trafalgar Square, of which my article from 2011 remains the most visited on this site.

Bann's book is billed as '... the first attempt to portray the visual legacy of (the ECW) period, as passed down, revisited and periodically reworked over two and a half centuries of subsequent English history.' Definitely one for the reading list. You can read more about it on the Reaktion Books website here.

Churches built during the Commonwealth (1649-1660)

Staunton Harold church, Leicestershire (1653). Photo: David Stowell (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Various numbers are quoted for how many churches were built during the Commonwealth (1649-1660), usually ranging from four to seven. A web search suggests no consensus, with the lack of clarity seeming to hinge on whether the churches were entirely new constructions, re-modellings of older ones, or whether you include Scotland or not.

Here's a rundown of all the contenders, with a stab at some conclusions ...

An Epithalamion, or Marriage Song on the Lady Elizabeth and Count Palatine being Married on St Valentine’s Day (John Donne, 1613)

Frederick and Elizabeth, King and Queen of Bohemia Today marks the 404th anniversary of the marriage of Elizabeth Stuart (sister of Charles I) to Frederick, the Elector Palatine. The pair married on 14 February 1613, with lavish simultaneous celebrations in London and Heidelberg. John Donne was commissioned to write a marriage song to celebrate the occasion, so, for all those celebrating Valentine's Day, here it is ...

Bromley Hall: London's oldest brick building

A grim stretch of the Blackwall Tunnel northern approach is hardly where you'd expect to find London's oldest brick building - or an English Civil War gunpowder factory, for that matter ...

Wooden replica of 17th century London burnt

Here's the video of the 120m-long wooden replica of 17th century London being set alight.

The model was built by US artist David Best to mark 350 years since the Great Fire of London in 1666. To mark the anniversary the Museum of London has created a website as a permanent resource for information on the fire:

www.fireoflondon.org.uk

London and the English Civil War: A lecture by Barry Coward (2008)

The White Tower, Tower of London. Image: © Copyright Rod Allday (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Here's an interesting read: a transcript of the revised version of Barry Coward's presidential lecture given at the Historical Association’s Annual Conference at the Museum of Childhood on 12 April 2008 (a shorter version was given to the Friends of Senate House Library on 7 March 2005).

Interactive map: London's English Civil War defences
A walk round Brentford and Turnham Green

The York House Water Gate: Part Two - The Water Gate in Art

A view of the Thames from the Buckingham stairs water gate towards the Adelphi Terrace, Saint Paul's Cathedral beyond. Circle of William Marlow (1740-1813).

Read first! The York House Water Gate: Part One

The York House Water Gate has been a source of inspiration for many artists since its completion in 1626, though sadly only as a remnant of the once-great Thames-side mansion rather than as the grand waterside entrance to the ill-fated Duke of Buckingham's lodgings.

Here are some examples ...

Commemoration, Holly Holy Day, Mass for a Martyr and 'Fortress Newark'

The parade of the King's Army on Horse Guard's Parade in 2012.

A number of annual events are scheduled to take place later this month:

• Jan 24 Holly Holy Day 2015: Day commemorating the lifting of the Siege of Nantwich in 1644. Expect living history displays, cavalry, music, molly dancing, plough witches and other activities, with the battle re-enactment on Mill Island just on the west side of the town centre at 2pm.
• Jan 25 (11am - 1pm): The King's Army of the English Civil War Society traces the route of the King's last walk from St James' Palace in the Mall to his place of execution at the banqueting House in Whitehall. The army will be draw up on Horse Guards Parade, with a wreath laid outside the Banqueting House.
• Jan 31 (12pm): Sung Mass at Saint Mary de Castro, Castle Street, Leicester, to commemorate the 'Martyrdom of King Charles'.

An exciting series of events has also been announced for the May bank holiday weekend to celebrate the opening of the National Civil War Centre in Newark. Over the weekend of 3-4 May 'Fortress Newark' will feature re-enactments, displays, parades and living history to bring the Civil Wars to life, with up to 1000 members of the Sealed Knot, English Civil War Society and History Re-enactment Workshop taking part. More details can be found on the Events calendar.

More events in 2015

Unveiling of the Rainsborough plaque

Click above to see footage from last year's unveiling of the plaque commemorating the resting place of Leveller leader Thomas Rainsborough in St John's churchyard, Wapping.

Speakers on the day included the late Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Rania Khan and John Rees. The event climaxes with a musket volley fired by the Thomas Rainsborough Company of The Sealed Knot.

Guest blog: Re-publishing the Mercurius Civicus (Serena Jones, Tyger's Head Books)

A printing of Mercurius Civicus from 1645.

The beginnings of English journalism could be said to lie in the newsbooks that originated in the 16th century. Early incarnations often focussed on news from abroad, and it was not until the rapid proliferation during the English Civil War that newsbooks came to focus heavily on domestic issues. Pamphlets such as the Royalist Mercurius Aulicus and the Parliament-supporting Mercurius Britannicus brought the conflict into print by aiming to score propaganda victories, with an estimated 300 different newsbooks appearing at various times during the 1640s.

Publisher Tyger's Head Books recently re-published the first two volumes one of these titles, Mercurius Civicus (1643-46). In this guest article, editor Serena Jones explains more about the origin and format of mid-17th century newsbooks, the challenges for researchers in accessing them, and the origins of the re-publication project ...

Upcoming English Civil War events

The Charles I commemoration, Horse Guard's Parade, January 2012.

Though the main re-enactment season takes place between spring and autumn, that doesn't mean pikemen and musketeers aren't out there braving the cold ...

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

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) ...

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.

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 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?
 

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 ...