Civil War’s final battlefield found
BATTLE OF WORCESTER ARTEFACTS DUG UP FOR FIRST TIME
THE precise location of one of the English Civil War’s bloodiest battles has finally been discovered after musket balls, horse harnesses and buckles were unearthed at a building site.
Historians have known the broad area where the 1651 Battle of Worcester took place, but have never uncovered any physical evidence – until now.
Now artefacts discovered at a construction site in Powick, on the south western edge of Worcester, have brought the age-old mystery to an end.
At Worcester, Cromwell’s 28,000-strong New Model Army crushed a Royalist force of 16,000 in the bloody last battle of the civil war.
Close to 4,000 were killed and 10,000 taken prisoner. The 8,000 captured Scottish troops, loyal to Charles II, were deported to Bermuda where they worked as labourers.
Worcestershire County Council is digging up the Powick site for a major infrastructure project and part of the land is being used for a flood compensation area.
But county archaeologists scoured the area before bulldozers moved in and hit the jackpot.
They knew a major part of the battle took place in the vicinity because Powick Church tower and a nearby bridge have been peppered by musket shot.
The artefacts were buried deep at the bottom of a river valley, covered by flood deposits accumulated over hundreds of years.
Derek Hurst, project archaeological consultant, said: “For the first time we have been able to pinpoint the buried Civil War horizon within the flood silts built up across the flood plain. The key to this has been special scientific investigation of the flood silts using optically stimulated luminescence.”
Richard Bradley, lead archaeologist, said: “It is fantastic to be able to finally locate and map physical remains of the battle and to relate this to the historical record. We are just outside the registered battlefield area but this is still a nationally significant site.
“The construction work has given us the opportunity to investigate the floodplain across which thousands of infantry and cavalry engaged, and to get down to the level where artefacts were deposited. Many of the lead musket and pistol balls show evidence of firing or impact and these tangible signs of the conflict offer a poignant connection to the soldiers who fought and died here.”
The Battle of Worcester, that took place on September 3, 1651, was the final violent confrontation in Charles’s bid to take the throne lost when his father, Charles I, had his head lopped off. He had already been crowned king of Scotland, hence his mainly Scottish army.
Charles himself directed the battle from atop Worcester Cathedral and even led a sortie out to attack the Parliamentarians. But the royalists were eventually overwhelmed within the city itself and Charles was forced to remove armour, find a fresh mount and – shielded by royalist cavalry – flee through St Martin’s Gate. The city was stormed from three sides and the thousands of royalist who attempted to escape were picked off.
While on the run, Charles II famously hid in an oak tree in Boscobel House, Shropshire.
Oliver Crowmwell felt the significant victory was an act of God and sent the following despatch to the Speaker of the House of Commons, William Lenthall: “The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is, for aught I know, a crowning mercy.”
In other words, he felt success was the greatest gift bestowed on him by the Almighty.
Richard Shaw, Chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, said: “How exciting that 368 years after the Battle of Worcester these artefacts should be discovered. We are sure that there was fighting at this location on 3rd September 1651.
“Parliamentary forces had crossed the river at Upton-upon-Severn and were driving the Royalists back towards Worcester. The discoveries really bring the events of that day to life.”