How to fire a 17th Century cannon!

There are fewer sights more impressive on a battlefield than a cannon being fired and in this video, Monika, Matross to the Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote, takes you through the process of loading and firing a 17th Century ‘robinette’ cannon.

During the English Civil War, cannons were heavy, and hard to move and aim. Even the smallest cannons required at least four men to move them, while the largest needed around 16 horses. The missiles were most commonly balls of iron, however stones were often used as a cheap alternative.

Whatever their size, they were not particularly effective in battle – positioned before set-piece battles began, their main use was to strike fear into the enemy, rather than causing large amounts of damage. They were also slow: after one round had been fired the soldiers had to complete a strict procedure before they can fire again, which involved cleaning the barrel, and loading another cannonball and charge of gunpowder.

It was during sieges that cannon were most useful. Armies would often have slow-moving ‘siege trains’ that would seek to ‘reduce’ enemy fortifications over a long period of time after they had been cut off from outside help. These sieges could drag on for weeks or months – Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire endured several sieges without being taken, while it took Parliament three separate sieges and hundreds of men to overcome Basing House in Hampshire.

There were three types of cannon: siege guns, heavy field pieces (Culverin, demi-Culverin), and light field pieces (Saker, Drake, Minion, Falonet, Robinet).

Information sourced from R Hayhurst, The Use Of Cannon in the Civil War, with Particular Reference to Derbyshire (Local History Section of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society)

Why is Monika wearing women’s clothes, you may ask? During the English Civil War there were numerous sieges where civilians were involved in defending castles and fortifications, so it might not have been unusual to see a woman stationed on the walls!

Want to have a go yourself? Being a member of a cannon crew is actually an excellent way to watch and participate in a battle at the same time – you have a very important role, but you can also get a unique perspective on the battle itself. Visit our join up page now and discover how you could be a part of the fun!