Latest news with #EnglishCivilWars
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Best kept British beach secret' has beautiful views and hardly any tourists
Deal is a historic town on the eastern coast of Kent, England, and just an hour's train ride from London. It's a hidden gem with a lot to offer, but it's often overlooked by tourists The perfect time of year for venturing upon new holiday spots is here. Yet, people doesn't have to travel far to discover a beautiful, overlooked coastal gem. Deal, nestled on Kent's eastern shore, grants visitors splendid sights of the English Channel and lies only an hour by train from the buzz of London. On clear days, the shores of France are visible across the golden strips of sand in Deal. The town is loved for its vibrant pastel-coloured fisherman's cottages, grand Georgian edifices and the impressive Tudor castle that stoically surveys the sea from on high. The Guardian has dubbed Deal the "most charming" spot in Kent, while Restless extols it as a "quirky yet underrated town with gorgeous sea views year-round." CNN Traveler lays claim to Deal being England's "best-kept beach secret," cherished by those who are privy to this knowledge. Dominating the local skyline, Deal Castle is a historic centrepiece. Erected by order of King Henry VIII in 1540 as a bulwark against French and Holy Roman Empire advancements, its history is steeped in military significance. The castle played a significant part during the turmoil of the English Civil Wars in the 17th century and proved vital during WWII as part of Britain's coastal fortifications. Today, visitors can wander its old battlements, relish picnics on the castle grounds, and absorb the breathtaking Channel vistas from this maritime bastion. Just a short distance from the castle, you'll find Deal Castle Beach, home to a 300-metre promenade - one of only two in Kent. The beach is renowned for its vibrant fishing boats, known as Deal cutters. In the vicinity, you can partake in activities such as crazy golf, paddling, and sailing, or simply browse the array of shops and eateries that populate the area. Deal is also a paradise for art enthusiasts, with an abundance of galleries and museums. The Astor Theatre is a cultural hub, hosting a year-round programme of performances and festivals. Whether your passion lies in visual arts or live performances, Deal has something to captivate your curiosity. At the heart of Deal, you'll discover a blend of eccentric shops and bustling flea markets. The Deal Saturday Market is a must-see, offering fresh local produce, clothing, flowers, jewellery, and toys. It's the ideal spot to immerse yourself in the local culture and pick up a distinctive keepsake. Deal also prides itself on a delightful assortment of independent shops selling vintage items such as vinyl records, books, collectables, and carefully curated clothing and furniture. For a picture-perfect location, head to Middle Street, recognised for its colourful Georgian houses and iconic narrow, winding lanes. This pretty street also harbours a secretive past, once being a popular haunt for smugglers during the 17th and 18th centuries. Following a day of discovery, Deal morphs into a haven for food enthusiasts. The town hosts a produce market on Wednesdays and Fridays, and boasts an eclectic array of eateries, serving everything from fresh seafood and French gastronomy to classic British dishes. Whether you're captivated by its coastal charm, fascinating history, or unique boutiques, Deal is a concealed treasure overflowing with personality and certainly merits a visit.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Event to explore town's role in Civil War
A historical event will allow people in Shropshire to experience 17th Century England and learn about one town's role in the English Civil War. Wem 1643: A Seventeenth Century Weekend will be held at the Butler sports centre in Wem on 17 and 18 May. Organised by national re-enactment group Militias of Anglia, it will demonstrate military drills, crafts and skills from the time and activities for children. The focus, though, is the small town's "crucial" part in the Civil War. The first of the three English Civil Wars began in 1642, and was fought between Charles I and Parliament. At the centre of the conflict were disagreements about religion, and discontent over the king's use of power and his economic policies. According to Wem Town Council, the town became the first in Shropshire to declare for Parliament in 1643 under Colonel Mytton - who organised the town fortifications. It said an attack on Wem by politician Lord Capel was successfully held off by locals, resulting in the verse: "The women of Wem and a few musketeers, beat Lord Capel and all his cavaliers." The Militias of Anglia said the victory was attributed to the bravery of the locals, who "potentially safeguarded important documents, including a copy of Magna Carta, though to have been evacuated from the library of Old Sir Rowland Hill at nearby Soulton Hall." The event's military displays will include pike and musket drills, as well as artillery demonstrations. An authentic 17th Century encampment will show visitors how soldiers and civilians lived at the time. Also included in the calendar of events will be children's games, a period fashion show and historical talks about inspiring women of the war. Militias of Anglia said loud sounds would be anticipated during military demonstrations, and dogs were not permitted. The event will open to the public at 10:00 BST on both days. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Medals with place in battalion history go on sale Medieval festival cancelled over £2,500 shortfall Militias of Anglia
BBC News
30-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Survey starts for Worcester military views on new gallery
People in Worcester and from further afield are being asked what parts of the city's military history they would like to see showcased by a museum have been drawn up to move the Worcestershire Soldier Gallery from Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum to The for initially with £243,200 lottery funding, a spokesperson for Worcester City Council said they now wanted to hear from people about how the gallery could meet their online survey has been started on the authority's website and several consultations are planned in the coming months. The scheme is being overseen by The Mercian Regiment Museum (MRM), Museums Worcestershire and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Trust. Royalist headquarters Dr John Paddock, curator of MRM, said they wanted to hear from local residents and those interested in military history."It's a great moment to find out what people enjoy in our current exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum and think about how they'd like to see and learn about Worcester's military history in future," he team previously said they were looking to apply for a full grant for the work this summer and Dr Paddock said responses from the surveys would feed into will be held at the The Commandery on 15 April, at the Yeomanry Memorial Event on 26 April and at the Worcestershire/WFR regimental reunion on 7 June, organisers the English Civil Wars era, The Commandery was the Royalist headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Not Time's Fool: A Rare Version of a Shakespeare Sonnet Is Discovered
If you have already had the good fortune of encountering 'Sonnet 116' by William Shakespeare, you were probably at a wedding. It is not, by most accounts, a sexy poem. It is not exactly a happy one, either. Instead, it celebrates commitment to devotion: 'Love's not time's fool,' perhaps its most famous phrase, is held up as a toast to living together and aging together. It is one of the poems that, however often it is read aloud, still pricks tear ducts and quiets fidgets. But during the English Civil Wars in the mid-1600s, the poem may have had a different resonance. That's, at least, according to research published last month in The Review of English Studies by an Oxford researcher, Leah Veronese, who found a rare, handwritten version in an archive. Such discoveries are rare. 'It's incredibly exciting when somebody finds any manuscript trace of Shakespeare's poems,' said a Columbia University professor, James Shapiro, an expert on Shakespeare who was not involved in the find. And experts are celebrating the discovery as an early example of the ways that Shakespeare's work has been adapted to meet a charged moment. 'Shakespeare has always been political,' Professor Shapiro said, adding, 'People repurposed it in their own day — as in ours — for different political ends.' This variation — which has a different opening, ending and seven additional lines — reads more as a celebration of political loyalty than romantic love. It may come from one of the greatest upheavals in British history: A fight between royalists (who supported the monarchy) and parliamentarians (who did not). For a brief period, Britain was not ruled by a monarch. Much suggests that the newly discovered version was a royalist adaptation. Dr. Veronese discovered the variant in the papers of Elias Ashmole, a supporter of the monarchy who was born in 1617 — the year after Shakespeare died. It was among other politically charged works, which included banned Christmas carols and satirical poems from the 1640s. And it had been set to music by the composer Henry Lawes, which can be found in the New York Public Library. That alone would have been rebellious: The Republican regime banned the public performance of songs, Oxford said in a news release published on Monday. 'What was once a kind of erotic, playful love poem,' Professor Shapiro said, had 'been repurposed to speak to people in the midst of a civil war — in which their loved ones are fighting and dying.' Consider the opening lines of 'Sonnet 116': The nod to 'marriage' might be why it's a favorite at weddings, said Prof. Michael Dobson, the director of the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, who was not involved in the discovery. But the commitment to loving someone forever, just as they are, also resonates. 'It makes an implausible vow of eternal constancy, which is what marriages are all about,' said Professor Dobson, who has 'love's not time's fool' etched into his wedding band. The opening of the variation reads as much more righteous — almost scolding — instead of musing. Practically, the additional lines were added to create more singable verses, according to Oxford. But in the context of the civil wars, the Oxford release said, 'the additional lines could also be read as an appeal toward religious and political loyalty.' Could the self-blinding error have been the push to leave the monarchy behind? Are the parliamentarians the minds who were making such false appeals? Professor Dobson noted that the language of devotion is often similar, whether applied to love or politics. 'You know: 'my king — right or wrong — I will die a royalist,'' he said, describing both versions as odes to 'eternal, quixotic constancy.' He said it was not clear whether the poem was a copy of a draft written by Shakespeare or an adaptation written by someone else. Either way, the discovery shows how Shakespeare's work found life in the years after his death. For Shakespeare scholars, it suggests that the sonnets had more sticking power than many had once thought. Shakespeare's sonnets were published in 1609. The collection barely sold, Professor Dobson said, noting, 'The printed copy of Shakespeare's sonnets was probably Shakespeare's biggest flop.' A 1640 version — altered to expunge hints of a male lover — barely caused a ripple. In fact, he said, the sonnets did not become popular until the late 1700s, when interest surged in the bard's life and Romanticism reigned. Some scholars had thought that, for the first two centuries, the sonnets were all but forgotten. The new discovery suggests otherwise, Professor Dobson said. 'At least one person thought this was a worthwhile piece of work.' Perhaps, the variation is a sign of what may be Shakespeare's greatest constant: change. So even if love, at least in 'Sonnet 116,' is 'an ever-fixèd mark,' the author himself is not. That, it seems, has always been his power, from the Royalist gatherings of 1600s Britain to the political fights and wedding speeches of today.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- BBC News
Huntingdon's 1646 witchcraft trial ordeal re-enacted
When nine Huntingdonshire people were accused of witchcraft in 1646, during the English Civil Wars, their accusers knew who to turn to for help - Witchfinder General Matthew six women and three men found themselves on trial for their lives - four of them would be found guilty and Civil Wars saw a "resurgence in witchcraft accusations" when "people were looking around for someone else to blame for their ills", said historian Stuart group's ordeal is being re-enacted on Saturday and Sunday in Huntingdon's Georgian courtroom, on the site of the building where the 17th Century trial took place. "For many people, the Civil War was the world turned upside down, times were hard, the harvest was failing because of poor weather, thousands of people had died in the wars or of war-related disease," said Mr Orme, curator of The Cromwell Museum in wanted someone to blame and, in an era when most people believed in witchcraft, the focus turned to those on the edges of society."In 90% of cases, those accused were women - they tended to be the poorest in society, they depended on the parish poor rate and were resented for that and they would be blamed for things like cursing animals or children," he said. The nine, who were all from "a very humble background", were put on trial in 1646, during the 18 months in which Matthew Hopkins was active across East accused "about 300 people of witchcraft and over 100 are executed", Mr Orme said. The historian added: "If he is known at all, it's from the 1960s' horror film with an elderly Vincent Price, but the real Witchfinder General is only 25 years old when he begins his career." Hopkins made his first accusations in Manningtree, Essex, and from there his career took off, using brutal methods. "The accused would be imprisoned, deprived of food, sleep, water, clothes, even the ability to sit down or lie down or sleep, and then after three or four days of this, whilst being harangued and interrogated, most people will crack and confess simply to make it stop," Mr Orme re-enactments are based on a pamphlet about the Huntingdonshire trial, recorded by John Stern from Hopkins' of the accused "mutters under their breath all the time", another is described as "a sottish [drunk] woman". However, the vicar of Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire, was deeply disturbed when he witnessed Hopkins' methods in Huntingdon and wrote a pamphlet condemning Orme said: "He's asking, 'How can you have a fair trial when these people are being tortured?' Torture is against English common law, it's illegal."This led to a campaign against Hopkins and within a few months his activities ceased. He died the following year. With the first Civil War (1642-1646) coming to an end, life began returning to normality and the witchcraft hysteria of the mid-1640s faded away. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
