RFCM

In this time of lockdown i thought I'd share just a few pictures of where I live, and its context in the Civil War. Normally Lichfield can be quite busy with tourist traffic so its actually nice to so it so quiet. Before anyone raises the point this this part of my 1 trip a day out exercise (mit hund)

In 1643, a year into the war, the Cathedral became a battleground between the forces of Parliament and King – ironically it was the wall built to defend it during medieval times that made it such a target. While Lichfield town had sided with Parliament, its cathedral and religious community had remained loyal to King Charles I and the building was occupied by Royalist soldiers under the command of the Earl of Chesterfield.

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/f2cd7a41b22869c13e18330b2abae1f3.jpg)

The first Siege: March 1643
The Cathedral proved to be an ideal place for a garrison. Lichfield was the only "cathedral castle" in the country, thanks to a decision by bishops Lymesey and de Clinton to fortify it with a thick stone wall during the 13th century.


The second siege: April 1643
Just a month after the first siege was over the Royalists planned a campaign to retake the Cathedral. This time it was not the town itself that was important but its strategic location. King Charles was seeking to secure a safe route for Queen Henrietta and a convoy of munitions based at York to reach him at Oxford.Charles entrusted the job of capturing the Roundhead strongholds along the route in the West Midlands to his nephew Prince Rupert. The flamboyant Rupert, who was known to ride into battle accompanied by his white hunting poodle Boy, was a skilled and experienced soldier and one of the Royalist's most successful commanders.
After capturing and looting Birmingham, Rupert turned his attention to Lichfield cathedral, which he besieged in April. Royalist artillery positions were established around the town to pound the Cathedral's walls, one such fieldwork is still visible having become the beer garden of the George and Dragon Pub known as "Rupert's Mound". After several attempts to storm the walls of the Cathedral failed, Rupert brought up miners from nearby Cannock Chase to first drain the moat and then tunnel under the walls.
Once these were complete he ordered the tunnels packed with gunpowder which was denoted on 20 April – the first recorded example of an explosive mine being used in a siege in England.
Once the dust settled a large breach had been created in the walls.
At this point the Parliamentary defenders decided to surrender and were allowed to leave honourably with their arms. They also managed to sneak the silver they had plundered from the building past the Royalists.


The third siege: March 1646
Lichfield and its Cathedral experienced a period of three years of relative peace under Royalist control as the war moved it other parts of the country.
It wasn't until March 1646 when towards the close of the first civil war a parliamentary army led by Sir William Brereton arrived before the Staffordshire city.
So began the longest siege of the Cathedral as the Royalist defenders held on grimly in the vain hope of relief coming from Oxford. Over the four months of the siege the Parliamentarians erected new cannon positions from which to bombard the Cathedral. One shot hit the central spire, bringing it crashing down along with much of the Cathedral's roof.
The Royalists continued to resist. As rations began to run low, the 800 soldiers resorted to eating their hoses and any scraps that could be found.
It was only after Charles I handed himself over to Parliament and ordered his troops to surrender that the Royalist garrison at Lichfield finally laid down their arms.
The three sieges left a once grand place of worship completely wrecked shell.
The ruined Lichfield Cathedral remained as a sorry reminder of the destruction of the civil wars throughout the Protectorate until the restoration of the monarch under Charles II in 1660.
Perhaps moved by the staunch defence put up by the Cathedral's defenders and the damage it had sustained on his father's behalf during the war, Charles II ordered extensive repairs to be undertaken.
The damaged spire and roof were repaired and Sir Christopher Wren was called on to provide his skills to bring the Cathedral back to its former glory.

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich1-1.jpg)

This is the approach to the Cathedral

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich2.jpg)

Here is the road leading to the close. This was the main thoroughfare, the Swan you see on the corner is the old coaching inn and is one of the oldest with its origins in the c.15. Not related to the Civil War , but of interest 3 doors down you can see the pub known as the King's Head since c.1650, but previously called the Antelope and The Bush. Said to be the oldest pub in Lichfield dating from 1408. The King's Head is often called the 'Home of the Staffordshire Regiment'. In March 1705, Colonel Luke Lillingston raised a regiment of foot here at the Inn which would become known as the 38th foot by 1751 and as the 1st Staffordshire Regiment in 1783. After a reorganisation just under a hundred years later, it became the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment.


The next two pictures show the southern face of the close. Minister Pool was once the moat. To the left of the picture is the coaching road (Bird Street) , from the previous picture. The tree line in front of the cathedral is where the walls would have stood.  To the right, which is now all built up. were once the long gardens where the besiegers were camped.

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich3.jpg)

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich4.jpg)

Probably the most famous event was the killing of Lord Brook during the second siege. This is commemorated in Dam street with this plaque

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich6.jpg)

Quote"[On] March 2nd 1643 Lord Brooke a General of the Parliament forces, preparing to
besiege the close of Lichfield, then garrisoned for King Charles the First, received his death wound on the spot beneath this inscription by a shot in the forehead, from Mr Dyott. A gentleman who had placed himself on the battlements of the great steeple to annoy the besiegers".

Here you can see the position where Lord Brook was killed , and the in distance the spire from which 'dumbe' Dyott loaded his fowling piece and made the luck shot!

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich5.jpg)

The next picture is of interest because you can see some of the close walls in the buildings around the edge of the cathedral

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich7.jpg)

This is my route home. I live about 200 yards from here. The fields here - now owned by Cathedral school were the Royalist cavalry were stabled.

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich8.jpg)

Finally , for today. On my road, this shows Gaia Lane nee  Gayes Lanes nee Hayes Lane where there was an ambuscade as part of the siege.

(http://badwargamers.com/bad/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/lich9-1.jpg)

If there is any interest I can do some more pics of the other areas of note.

Thanks Simon - that's a really nice piece of local history.

I'm game for more!

Simon

Thanks as well Simon.... would love to see more. Nice Community.

Bob

Thanks Simon, Lichfield is on my ECWtravelogue 'to do' list. A list which has got quite a bit longer these past few days.

Thanks Simon; unlikely o get there any time soon so the tour is much appreciated.

Really interesting read, Simon. Thank you.

Al

I visit the village of Hammerwich, close to Lichfield around once per week for 'professional' reasons, but have yet to make it into the town.

The siege forms part of the story in one of the Michael Arnold novels set during the ECW where his Sharpe like character, Stryker fights for the King. The death of Brooke is woven into the story quite well.

Another of the novels is set at Hopton Heath. They're not a patch on Bernard Cornwell, but make for some light reading!

Hopton Heath is a remarkably intact battlefield. When I visited (2009 I think) I could even see the boundary hedge of one of the fields troops advanced across. I used a little pink wargamer's guide to the battle with some good maps in it to orient myself, as well as the OS Landranger. I think I should mimic your idea Simon and put up some photos of my home town, which was a star fort town and also part of the Atlantic Wall in WWII.