11:02am Saturday 22nd August 2009
By Charlotte Percival
IT WAS mid July 1644, and York had been under siege for 12 weeks. Churches had been damaged or pulled down, civilians had been shot, cattle had been rounded up and most of the crops around the city had been collected or burned, while York Minster had been bombed during a service, cannonballs bouncing off the columns and walls.
This was The Great and Close Siege of York during the English Civil War, and at its height, there were 31,000 troops surrounding the city.
Those dark, devastating days are being brought back to life this weekend during York’s first English Civil War Festival; ten days of re-enactments, exhibitions, choral music, readings and walks with a costumed guide.
Based upon actual events and organised by York Archaeological Trust, Visit York and Sir Thomas Glemham’s Regiment of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group, the festival, starting today, focuses on what life was like when York was under siege in the Civil War.
“York has many references to its siege, telling of death and destruction during those 12 weeks the Parliamentarian Army surrounded York from 21st April to 16th July,” says Russell Marwood, battlefields officer at the Yorkshire Archaeological Trust, and a member of The Sealed Knot.
“Ecclesiastical buildings suffered, and St Denys’ Church had its spire shot through whilst St George’s Church received so much damage that it had to be pulled down. This also happened to St Lawrence’s Church.
“Civilians were deemed legitimate targets and a maid was unfortunate to be killed by a “fiery bullet” in Thursday Market. Mistress Clarke was a little more fortunate when a cannonball hit her house, the blast of it knocking her under a table. This saved her life as the house then fell down around her.”
York’s ancient fortifications also suffered – a breach was made in the Roman wall near to the Multangular Tower, and a crack appeared in Clifford’s Tower – and money was tight, as residents prepared for the fight.
The battle on Hessay Moor, known today as Marston Moor, became the greatest congregation of troops during the Civil War.
More than 40,000 men met to give battle on that wet evening of July 2 and 4,300 were to lose their lives in the fields around Tockwith and Long Marston, says Russell.
“After the Battle of Marston Moor, the victorious Parliamentarian Army re-occupied their trenches around the city and York surrendered on the 16th July. Of the wounded that were allowed back into the city, only a few are known by name. One was John Dolben who, 40 years after almost bleeding to death on the battlefield, became the Archbishop of York.”
Documentary and archaeological evidence offer tantalising glimpses into what life was like during the Civil War, and historians have pieced many things together.
For example, we know the Old Starre Inn in Stonegate, flourished during the siege and its landlord, William Foster, was known to be an ardent Royalist.
He was noted to be in a “despondent mood” after the Battle of Marston Moor, however, as he watched his house invaded by victorious Roundhead troopers.
Russell hopes the festival will highlight how much 17th century history there is in York, starting with a march from the Sealed Knot soldiers, today, and a living history camp in the Museum Gardens tomorrow.
The festival will also hold Civil War exhibitions in the Mansion House and the Minster Library, showing documents drawn up on the Marston Moor battlefield on the day of the battle, as well as a 10ft diorama of the battle with model soldiers, and colouring competitions.
Special interest events include an evening of 17th century choral music and readings in the Quire of York Minster.
Des Thomas, a member of re-enactment groups 17th Century Life & Times and Sir John Savile’s Household, believes the Civil War is a period of history that we should never forget.
“My wife and I go into schools and do talks on the Civil War and it is on the curriculum, which I think is very important,” he said.
“If people forget history they will be condemned to repeat it. People forget what went on before, but it’s what makes us what we are.”
York’s English Civil War Festival will run from today until August 31. For more information, contact Russell Marwood on 01904 663014.
Behind the battlefront
WARS in the 17th century were fought very differently from those today, says historical re-enactor Des Thomas.
There were no standing armies then, and a soldier, who may have never travelled away from home before, would have to move up and down the country and knock on people’s doors to find a bed for the night.
Others would live in siege lines – similar to the trenches of the First World War – dug outside garrisons, such as York, to defend the city walls.
Life was also hard for the women left behind. They had to look after homes and land while children would look after animals.
It was frightening too, hearing guns being blasted, and not being able to venture beyond the city walls to continue your everyday life. England’s population was 5.5 million at the start of the Civil War, says Des, but dropped by half a million because of disease, starvation and men lost to war.
“People look at the First World War and the terrible loss of life but when you talk about population, there were about 30 million people then,” says Des. “In the 17th century there were 5.5 million. It was very dramatic.”
A soldier’s basic weapon was a sword, says Des.
“That was almost like a badge of rank. It brought them above the rest of the people.”
It also brought talk of them gaining the vote.
“In those days you had to really have status to have the vote,” says Des. “To think peasants would have some decision over what happens meant other people weren’t very happy.”
Levels of education deteriorated too, to stop people rising above their stations.
“It is believed the level of education before the Civil War was as good was it was before the start of the First World War,” added Des.
“But a lot of education reforms had worked through and people could read a little bit. Afterwards, it was almost like keeping them down. They were afraid of having a revolution like in France.”
However, it did give people the power to make decisions about what happened to them.
“Up to that point, it was somebody above them who had that decision, but after the Civil War and for the next 50 years, people had more of a chance to have a say in what was going to happen.”
War fact file
The English Civil War, fought between 1642-1651, was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists.
The first (1642-46) and second (1648-49) pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, called by the King in November 1640.
The third war (1649-51) was between supporters of King Charles I and supporters of the Rump Parliament; formed after the Long Parliament was purged in December 1648 of members who were hostile to trying the King for high treason.
It ended with the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester in September 1651.
The causes were numerous. King Charles ruled his kingdom, without recourse to Parliament from early in his reign, and tried to raise money through taxes and monopolies, which led to dissatisfaction among many of his subjects.
Another source of discontent was Charles meddling in religious affairs.
Festival highlights
Today:
From 10.30am: Redeemer Of The North. A march with soldiers, flags and drums from York Minster to the Mansion House.
Tomorrow:
10am-4.15pm, Museum Gardens: This War Without An Enemy. Meet members of the Sealed Knot and explore their living history encampments.
Monday:
10.30am-4.30pm Mansion House: Cromwell’s War Machine. See Fairfax’s waistcoat, a diorama of the Marston Moor battlefield and original weaponry.
Wednesday:
9.15am to 5pm: I Esteem My Crown A Little Less. A day-long walk around the battlefield of Marston Moor with a costumed guide. To book, phone 01904 615505 Thursday:
10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm, Mansion House: As Stubble Before The Wind. Watch how a battle started and what it was like, with weapons and real firing guns. For seven-11 year olds.
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