Much like their more famous ‘war on Christmas’, some hardline Puritans of the early 17th Century also had Easter in their sights. It has been said that the transformation of Easter into a secular festival second only to Christmas has accelerated in recent years. With the long weekend affording many families the chance to come…
It is almost an understatement to say that the 1640s and ‘50s saw some of the most radical political movements in British history. From the Levellers to the Diggers, from Quakers to Muggletonians, a massive proliferation of radical ideas erupted as the old institutions of government broke down. In the chaos of war and political…
Cannon will fire, drums will sound, and swords will clash as the English Civil War returns to Bolton in a fantastic FREE event THIS WEEKEND! Roundheads and Cavaliers will descend on Bolton School on 7-8 July for ‘The Storming of Bolton’ – an exciting weekend of thrilling battles and fascinating ‘living history’! Staged by The Earl of…
The Poet MP and the Plot Against Parliament London, 1643 – a city under threat, a resurgent enemy, dangers around every corner. And a poet, engaged by a king to lead a plot to restore him to his throne… The year 1643 would prove to be the ‘high water mark’ of the Royalist cause in…
Follow The Storming of Bolton event page on Facebook >> Cannon will fire, drums will sound, and swords will clash as schoolchildren from across Bolton get the chance to go back in time to the English Civil War – thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A new project will see special education…
Over on Twitter we asked if there were any questions people would like answered about history, politics, and society during the English Civil Wars. Meaghan Brown (@EpistolaryBrown) asked about the oft-repeated line about Oliver Cromwell banning mince pies as part of the Puritan ‘war on Christmas’ in the 1640s and ’50s. Thanks for the great…
Did you watch us re-enact the English Civil War in Nantwich? Just think – YOU could join us as we bring history to life across the country, camping in some of the most spectacular locations in England, Scotland, and Wales, having great fun afterwards by socialising around the campfire or down the beer tent, and making…
It was a minor battle of the first English Civil War, but how did the relief of the besieged Cheshire town of Nantwich in 1644 set in motion events that would lead to the restoration of the monarchy? Following a year of setbacks, the victory of their forces at Nantwich on 25 January 1644 was…
Nantwich is a pleasant little town just outside of Crewe, famed for its old buildings and once a prosperous salt-producing and coaching centre. But for one day every January, the town plays host to hundreds of re-enactors who march through the town to commemorate the lifting of the Siege of Nantwich in 1644. After parading…
Turnham Green is a public park, around seven miles from the centre of London. With its George Gilbert Scott-designed church, war memorial, and old Town Hall, it’s typical of the capital’s civic green spaces. But 375 years ago today, it played host to a stand-off that helped change the course of British history. After the…