The Battle of Worcester

One of Charles' first acts following his arrival in England was to issue an order that all men between 16 and 20 should rally to his cause. Few did, however, and the king was left with under 16,000 men, mainly Scots, to deploy against the 28,000 experienced soldiers of the New Model Army which Cromwell was bringing against him, plus of 3,000 militia.!

Cromwell, advancing from the south, made his headquarters in the house at Spetchley Park. Situated two miles south of Worcester, of the A422, the gardens are open to the public.

To prevent being attacked on two fronts, the Royalists demolished the bridge across the Severn at Upton. However, a plank, carelessly left, enabled the Parliamentary forces under Lambert to cross, occupy the west bank and start the encircling movement.

By 3 September, Cromwell was ready to attack. The first place to come under pressure was the Royalist outpost at Powick. Charles, who had been watching from the Cathedral Tower, rode out to help, but his forces were beaten back into the city. At this point, cavalry under Leslie, who had camped on Pitchcroft refused to join the battle.

Charles saw that his only chance to win was to attack Cromwell's centre in Perry Wood and Red Hill. After initial successes, the Royalists again felt the lack of reinforcements and fell back under the counterattacks. At the Commandery, just outside the City Walls, the Duke of Hamilton, who was mortally wounded leading the attack on Perry Wood, died, and the king only just managed to escape back into Worcester. The restored Commandery, with displays of Worcester's history including the battle, is open to the public.

Completely defeated, Charles returned to his lodgings at Rowland Berkeley's house at the corner of the Cornmarket and New Street. Part of the building is still standing, look out for the inscription "Love God, honour ye King" above the doorway. From here, with Parliamentarian troops entering the front door, Charles escaped by the back door and started the adventure, which was to take him eventually to France and exile until the Restoration in 1660.

Whilst in Worcester, it is worth visiting the Guildhall. the outside of this gracious Queen Anne building shows why Worcester is known as the FAITHFUL CITY with statues of Charles I and II flanking the main door. Inside, among other creatures, are suits of armour left after the final battle.

Worcester to Boscobel

Wednesday 3 September 1651

When Charles realised the fight was lost, he left the city at 6.00pm with Lords Wilmot and Derby, Charles Giffard and others. They headed northwards, the route passing close to Kidderminster, over Kinver Heath, through Stourbridge to White Ladies Priory, on the Giffards' Boscobel estate, arriving at 3.00am on September 4th.

OMBERSLEY is a very attractive half-timbered village, 5 miles north of Worcester, just off the A449. The King's Arms, where Charles stopped or refreshments, is a nice black and white building on the right. Charles also halted at WHITTINGTON MANOR (Kinver), built in 1310, once the home of Sir William de Whittington, Dick Whittington's grandfather, and now the Whittington Inn, beside the A449 5 miles north of Kidderminster. At WORDSLEY, the old house where Charles got food, on the left side of the A491 heading north. The ruin of WHITE LADIES PRIORY, with a small cruciform church of the late 12th century, is an Ancient Monument. The ruins of HUBBAL GRANGE can be reached by public footpaths from here (approximately 1 mile) but are not accessible by road.

Thursday 4 September 1651

At White Ladies, the king met the loyal Penderel brothers: William, tenant at Boscobel House; Richard, who lived with their widowed mother at Hubbal Grange Farm; Humphrey, a miller at White Ladies; John, a forester; and George, a servant also employed on the estate. For safety, Charles, now dressed as a woodsman, was hidden by Richard Penderel in a nearby wood, Spring Coppice. It rained all day. Lord Derby and others left to rejoin Royalists at Tong. Wilmot went to Brinsford and later on to Moseley Hall. After dark, Richard - "Trusty Dick" - took Charles to Hubbal Grange where the king had a meal. Afterward, he and Richard started for Madeley, intending to cross the Severn into Wales. At Evelith Mill, they were challenged by the miller, a Royalist, but not knowing this, they darted on their way. At Madeley, Mr. Francis Wolfe offere3d his barn (the hiding places in the house being too-well-know) where the king lay amongst the straw all night.

Friday 5 September 1651

The king remained in hiding all day at Madeley, but the Severn was very closely guarded, so he and Richard returned to Boscobel, arriving about 5.00am on Saturday, September 6th.

TONG is a village near Boscobel with a fine church, close to the great historic house of WESTON PARK. EVELITH MILL (Shifnal) survives but the buildings are all 18th- or 19th century. It is now part of a private house (not open - no tresspassing please!) in a pretty dell beside a minor road near the village of Kemberton. MADELEY, now part of Telford: Mr. Wolfe's barn is at UPPER HOUSE, which is now the Magistrates' Court (follow the signs). (It is close to the Blists Hill site of the famous IRONBRIDGE GORGE MUSEUM).

Saturday 6 September 1651

Colonel Carlis had arrived at Boscobel from Worcester. he and the king hid in a nearby oak tree all day whist Roundhead troops searched the woods, but never, apparently, lifted their eyes. At night, the fugitives supped in teh house and Charles slept in the hiding place.

BOSCOBEL HOUSE is in the care of English Heritage, and here many reminders of Charles' flight can be seen. The famous ROYAL OAK (after which many pubs are named) is in the grounds, but is only a descendant of the tree which grew there in 1651.

Boscobel to Stratford

Sunday 7 September 1651

Charles, having said goodbye to Carlis, mounted an old mill horse and - accompanied by all five Penderels and Francis Yates (their brother-in-law), who were on foot - made his way towards Moseley Hall, home of Mr. Thomas Whitgreave and his mother. On reaching Pendeford Mill, the king dismounted, having been advised to complete the journey on foot. William, Humphrey and George returned home with the horse. Richard, John and Francis Yates saw the king safely to the arranged meeting place, close to Moseley. Charles was met by Mr. Whitgreave  and Mr. Huddleston. Wilmot, already at the Hall, holding a light, awaited him at the foot of the back staircase and immediately hurried him to a room on the first floor.

BREWOOD, Carlis' home, is an attractive village, whose church has reminders of him. PENDEFORD MILL has gone, but the road east from Codsall towards Moseley is still called Pendeford mill Lane. Presumably Charles came this way. MOSELEY OLD HALL (now in the care of the National Trust): Although the exterior was altered in the 19th century, the interior has remained essentially unchanged since Charles sheltered here. The heavily studded "orchard door", though which the king entered, leads in to the main hall, off which is the parlour with it original oak panelling. On the first floor is the king's room with the four-poster bed on which Charles slept. Adjoining is the priest's hiding place, which offered refuge during the visit of the Parliamentary troops. To complete the period setting, the garden and orchard have been restored to a design of 1640 using only trees and plants that were known to be in cultivation in the 17th century.

Monday 8 September 1651

Charles remained in secret at moseley, while horses were brought from Colonel Lan'es house, bentley Hall, nine miles away, to take Lord Wilmot there.

Tuesday 9 September 1651

The following day, Tuesday, September 9th, Charles watched soldiers who had escaped from the Battle of Worcester from his upstairs window. In the afternoon, Cromwell's men arrived to arrest Thomas Whitgreave, believing he had fought for the king at Worcester. however, neighbours assured them that Mr. Whitgreave had been too ill to leave the house. All this time, Charles was in the hiding place.

Wednesday 10 September 1651

At midnight, September 9th-10th, the king left for Bentley Hall. Within a few hours, Charles was dressed as a tenant's son and riding before Mistress Jane Lane, the Colonel's sister, as her manservant, "William Jackson". Accompanying them were Withy Petre (Jane Lane's sister) and her husband John, together with kinsmen Henry Lascelles, a Royalist office. The Royal party's route to Bromsgrove, lay via Rowley Regis and Quinton (Howley Grange Farm). On arrival at Bromsrove it was discovered that the horse ridden by Charles and Jane had cast a shoe. The king took the horse to the blacksmith's. Chatting with the anti-Royalist smithy, the king remarked, "It's high time that rogue Charles Stuart was taken - he deserves to be hanged if anyone does!" From Bromsgrove, they reached Wooten Wawen where enemy cavalry were gathered with their horses outsider the village inn. Mr. and Mrs. Petre here left the king and reached Stratford-upon-Avon by another route.

Stratford to Bristol

Charles and Jane, with Henry Lascelles, rode through the troops on to Stratford and then to Long Marston to spend the night of September 10th-11th at the house of Mr. John  Tomes, kinsman of Jane, making it the end of the first week's wanderings.

BENTLEY HALL has disappeared, as as HOWLEY GRANGE FARM, while ROWLEY REGIS and QUINTON are now part of the Black Country. GOODREST FARM is just off the B4551 at Hunnington, but is hidden from the road by trees and a railway embankment. (It is almost opposite the Blue Bird sweet factory). BROMSGROVE is an ancient market town with some interesting features (see the Norton Museum). The village Inn at WOOTEN WAWAN, the Bull's Head, is very picturesque. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, although full of history and interest has no reminders of Charles' flight. The King's House at LONG MARSTON is now a guest house, where dedicated Charles followers can stay!

Thursday 11 September 1651

On Thursday, September 11, the journey continued thorugh Chipping Campden to Cirencester where, it is claimed, the Royal party spent the night of September 11th-12th at the Crown inn overlooking the very market place, which, nine years earlier, had seen the first skirmish of the Civil War. (A fine painting of this is on dislay in the King's Head).

CHIPPING CAMPDEN is, of course, one of the most glorious little market towns of England. STOW ON THE WOLD is also  a fine Cotswold town; try the stocks for size! CIRENCESTER also retains its old-world charm; its beautiful church is one of the Cotswold's finest. The Crown Inn is in the Market Square.

Friday 12 - Monday 15 Sepetember 1651

Proceeding on their way after daybreak, they passed through Chipping Sodbury and Bristol, arriving at Abbotsleigh, the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Norton, friends of Jane, a little to the west of Bristol. The king, his identity unknown to his hosts, stayed at Abbotseigh for three days. Attempts to get a boat from bristol to the Continent failed. Pope, the Norton's butler, recognised Charles through his disguise, having known him as a boy, so the king took him into his confidence.

Wilmot, having traveled separately, arrived in the neighbourhood and after dark was led, by Pope, to see the King. The plan now was to make for the south coast and try for a boat at on e of the small ports.

DYRHAM PARK, where Wilmot stayed was rebuilt 40 years later and is now a fine Dutch-influenced house of 1692, owned by the Nation Trust and open to the public. BRISTOL, was and is, on e of England's great city-ports, with a wealth of things to do and see, especially the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Brunel's iron ship Great Britain. BURTON, through which the king must have passed, is a picturesque little town. A 15th century court house and dovecote are all that remain of a Norman abbey, although the parish church has an interesting 13th century crypt.

Bristol to Lyme Regis

Charles, still in disguise, set out, with his companions to reach Trent House, the residence of Colonel Francis Wyndham, a Royalist officer. During the night, they had lodged at the Manor House, Castle Cary.

Wednesday 17 September

The end of the second week after Worcester, the party arrived at Trent to be greeted by Colonel Wyndham and Wilmot, the latter having previously reached the Colonel's dwelling. Wyndham spent the next few days enquiring about the possibility of a boat from Lyme Regis or Weymouth. Later, he arranged a sailing from Lyme Regis through a sea captain. William Ellesdon. It was whilst at Trent that Charles witnessed villagers celebrating his "death" - the locals believing the king to have been killed at Worcester. Jane lane and Lascelles left Trent to return home.

Monday 22 September

The king's journey continued. Pretending to be a runaway marriage party, Charles riding before Juliana Coningsby, a niece of old Lady Wyndham, started for Charmouth, spending some time at Ellesdon's house on the way.

CASTLE CARY is a quite little market town with reminders of former times including raised pavements know at "batcher", a 16th century thatched inn and a circular stone lockup erected in 1779. YEOVIL is now an exceedingly busy town, famous for glove-making. Nearby are 17th century Tintinhull House, the Elizabethan Montacute House and 16th century Brympton d'Evercy House, all worth visiting. The first two are in the care of the National Trust.

Going on the Charmouth, the king, Juliana and others, went to the Queen's Armes inn to await the promised crossing from Lyme. Captain Limbry, who was due to carry out the trip to France, did not have to turn up. This attempt to leave England having failed, the king's party moved on to Bridport.

CHARMOUTH, an attractive resort, is backed by dark cliffs famous for their abundance of fossils, some of which can be seen at the Fossil and Country Life Exhibition. To the east, the Golden Cap coastline is in the care of the national trust. Two miles to the west, LYME REGIS, is a natural anchorage with the 600ft-long Cobb harbour. The Duke of Monmouth landed here in 1685 prior to his defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor. It was one of the first seaside resorts in the south west, beloved of Jane Austen. BRIDPORT has since the Middle Ages been a major manufacturer of ropes, as can be seen in the width of the streets which were used for twisting and drying. At the centre is a fine Georgian town hall, opposite which is the chemist's shop, once the Old George Inn where Charles stopped. The local museum has finds from a nearby Roman army camp. At neighbouring West Bay, the picturesque harbour shelters beneath sheer sandstone cliffs.

Tuesday 23 - Wednesday 24 September

On arrival at Bridport, Charles pushed his way past a crowd of enemy soldiers into the stable yard of the Old George Inn. The ostler declared that he had met Charles before so, to be on the safe side, the king and party moved on to Broadwindsor and stayed at the George Inn there during the night. On the evening of Wednesday, the Royal party returned to Trent.

Lyme Regis to Salisbury

Tuesday 7 October

It was now five weeks since the king had escaped from the battle scene. Charles lay hidden at the Wyndhams' at Trent until well into the fifth week of his light. Efforts were made to arrange a sailing from Hampshire or Sussex. Wilmot had gone to Salisbury to contact several know Royalists, including Colonel Phillips on Montacute House and John Coventry, son of the former keeper of the Great Seal, who resided in the Close. A sailing from Southampton on September 29th had been arranged, but the shop was taken over by Roundheads at the last moment for taking troops to Jersey. Phillips, Coventry and Doctor Henchman, of Salisbury Cathedral, decided to try on the Sussex coast and got in touch with Colonel Gunter of Racton, near day, Chichester. On Sunday, October 5th, Phillips went to Trent to fetch the king. The following day, Charles, together with Mistress Conningsby and Henry Peters, Colonel Wyndham's servant, left Trent for the residence of Mrs. Amphillis Hyde, at Heale between Salisbury and Amesbury.

SHERBORNE contains a wealth of architectural detail, especially from the medieval period. The Abbey, once a cathedral, is at the heart of the town's educational traditions. Nearby, the almshouses have an attractive chapel, and the local museum is also worth visiting. The old castle was destroyed by Cromwell during the Civil War, while the present one was built by Sir Walter Raleigh. Two and a half miles west is the Worldwide Butterflies Collection. WINCANTON is a thriving market town with attractive 18th century buildings and a steeplechase race course.

One the way, the Royal party lunched at the George Inn at Mere.

MERE's inns are interesting. Apart from the Talbot, which as the George Inn sheltered the king, the Old Ship Inn has a beautiful wrought iron sign, based on the coat of arms of John Mere, after whom the town is named. The church, which is mainly Perpendicular, contains a small museum.

Whist at Heale, the king, with Phillips, spent his days at Stonehenge, returning to the house each evening after dark. On Tuesday, October 7th, Wilmot visited Colonel Gunter and persuaded him to help. The colonel failed to get a boat at Emsworth, so contacted his brother, Thomas, at Chichester but learned that he too had not been successful in securing a vessel. Gunter saw a French merchant, Francis Mancell, who made arrangements with a Captain Tattersall to carry the king and Wilmot from Shoreham, near Brighton, across to France.

SALISBURY is a picturesque city where all periods of architecture exist happily side by side. Built around the Cathedral (with it magnificent spire, 404 ft tall and the highest in England), it is one of the best examples of early English architecture. The Catherdral Close is superb, as is Mompesson House in the care of the National Trust. A succession of visitors to the city means that there is a variety of Inns. Charles' escape was planned at the King's Arms. For a complete view of the city's history, visit the museum. STONEHENGE, which was built over a period of 900 years between 2200BC and 1300BC, remains a mystery. Only one thing is certain, that the axis of the stone circles is carefully aligned with the sunrise on the longest day, June 21, which suggests an elaborate calendar. However, the engineering feat of transporting and erecting the huge stones helps give the monument its awe-inspiring reputation. MOTTISFONT ABBEY is in the care of the National Trust. The present house incorporates part of the 12th century Augustinian priory. A collection of old-fashioned roses is a feature of the attractive gardens.

Salisbury to Shoreham

Sunday 12 October

Colonel Phillips and Doctor Henchman rode to Heale House to warn the king to be prepared to leave.

The old-established gardens at Heale House, complete with authentic Japanese tea house, are set beside the River Avon.

Monday 13 October

The brother Gunter met Charles and Colonel Phillips, and they journeyed at sunset to the house of Thomas Symonds at Hambledon in Hampshire - Symonds being the Gunters' brother-in-law.

WINCHESTER: The Cathedral here is the second longest in Europe and shows three main styles, Norman, Early English and Perpendicular. The city's links with King Arthur are also perpetuated with what is called his Round Table kept in Winchester Castle, open daily in August to October. The City Museum has exhibits covering the region's history from prehistoric days, while the Westgate is now a museum housing a collection of ancient weights and measures. BISHOPS WALTHAM, a small town with Georgian buildings, is best known for the former palace dating from the 12th century of the Bishops of Winchester. Ruined during the Civil War, the remains are open. HAMBLEDON: A beautiful village, the home of modern cricket, is now also famous for its wine production from local grapes.

Tuesday 14 October

The king and Colonel Gunter made their way to Brighton together with Lord Wilmot who had joined them from Hinton Daubney, Lawrence Hyde's residence.

ARUNDEL: Charming town standing on a steep hill with the home of the Dukes of Norfolk, Arundel Castle (open to the public at advertised times). BRIGHTON: A small fishing village until the Prince Regent, later King George IV, made it a fashionable bathing place and built the unique oriental fantasy, the Royal Pavilion. now a popular seaside resort with its piers, promenades and marina.

Colonel Gunter knew that the George Inn was a safe place in Brighton at which to lodge. The landlord recognised the king, but could be trusted.

Wednesday 15 October

Exactly six weeks after the battle, Gunter awoke the king and Wilmot early and they started for Shoreham Harbour, sheltering in a cottage at SouthGreen on the way. The "precious cargo" went aboard Captin Tattersall's coal boat Suprise.

SHOREHAM-BY-SEA: An ancient town established in the 5th century. The Marlipins Museum which features the town's history is housed in a building dating from the 12th century.

it was later in the morning at eight o'clock that the vessel sailed, the crew not knowing the passengers' identity.

Thursday 16 October

Charles and Wilmot landed on French soil at Fecamp at ten in the morning. Next day they went to Rouen and later proceeded to Paris, where they were met by Queen Henrietta Maria, Charles' mother. It was not until the Spring of 1660, after the death of Cromwell (and the failure of his son Richard Cromwell's protectorate), that the monarcy weas restored and the exile welcomed back to England to reign as Charles II. He rode into London on 29 May, his 30th birthday ("oak apple day"), resolved that, whatever happened, he would never go on his travels again.