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The Cotswolds in the Civil War
The English Civil War was in fact two civil wars, 1642 to 1645, and 1648 to 1649, fought between King Charles I and the Royalists ("Cavaliers") and the supporters of Parliament ("Roundheads"). These wars would lead to the trial and execution of Charles I, the exile of his son (later to become Charles II), and the replacement of the English monarchy with the Commonwealth of England and later the Protectorate under the personal rule of Oliver Cromwell.
The Cotswolds were of great strategic importance in the Civil War; the King had his headquarters at Oxford and the Parliamentarians had garrisons at Gloucester and Bristol with sympathisers at Malmesbury and Cirencester.
In 1644 King Charles I took refuge at the White Hart Royal Hotel, a 17th century coaching inn in Moreton-in-Marsh. He is also reputed to have stayed at the Lygon Arms in Broadway which, at the time of the Civil War was called the White Hart. Oliver Cromwell also stayed here - you can still stay in The Cromwell Room where he slept in 1651.
Stow-on-the-Wold is an historic Cotswold Wool Town, at 800 feet above sea level the highest town in the Cotswolds. The narrow lanes leading to the market square were so built to allow for the easy shepherding of sheep - Stow was an important sheep market. Nowadays these lanes host antique shops, teashops and cafes.
Stow is also home to the oldest inn in England, The Royalist Hotel on Digbeth Street - it reputedly dates from 987 AD. Historic discoveries at the Royalist include a 10th century Saxon shoe, a Royalist commander's letter from the Civil War and a tunnel leading from the bar to the church across the street. Still visible in the public rooms are 'witches' marks', signs meant to ward off spells.
There are several other historic inns and hotels in Stow including the Kings Arms where King Charles slept before the Battle of Naseby on June 14th 1645.
At the Kings Head Inn in Bledington, the first man of repute to sign the visitors book was Prince Rupert of the Rhine, commander of the Kings forces, who stayed at the inn prior to The Battle of Stow.
The Battle of Stow, the last battle in the English Civil War, took place at Stow on the Wold on 21st March 1646.
In 1646 a Royalist army commanded by Sir Jacob Astley marched through the region in a desperate attempt to join up with King Charles at Oxford. They were met at Stow by a Parliamentary force under the command of Colonel Brereton. The fighting was fierce and deadly; the Royalists were defeated and over 1000 men were imprisoned within St Edward's church.
So great was the slaughter that it was said that ducks were able to bathe in the pools of blood that formed on the street leading away from the market square. This is said to be the origin of the street's name "Digbeth" or "Duck's Bath".
In May, 1649, troops in the Parliamentary army mutinied at Salisbury. They marched north, hoping to join up with other discontented soldiers. They rested the night of May 14 at Burford, were army leaders Oliver Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax caught up with them. After a brief skirmish, 340 of these "Levellers" were incarcerated in the church. Carvings made by the prisoners can be seen inside the church. Most notable of these is preserved inside the font, where visitors can read the inscription, "Anthony Sedley 1649 Prisner". A plaque on the exterior of the south wall of the church commemorates the spot where 3 leaders of the Levellers were executed, and the bullet holes from that sad event can still be seen. | ||