CASTLE

PROGRAMME 6: CASTLES AND THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00.00 – 00.54

An introduction to the programme in which Marc Morris hints at the impact the English Civil War had on castles.

00.55 – 03.04

We see a glimpse of the reality of the civil war in which tens of thousands of people died. We discover that during the war many abandoned castles were in fact brought back into use.

03.05 – 11.47

In this section Marc Morris takes us to Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire, south-east Wales, once the home of the Marquis of Worcester. We see how the castle had been updated and extended to reflect the times and was the height of modern living at the time.

11.48 – 16.04

We learn more about how the English Civil War started and progressed, and how this led many of the nobility to repair once decaying castles as strongholds against the parliamentarians.

16.05 – 19.49

We see how Raglan Castle was prepared for battle and converted from a lovely home to a defensive stronghold. Then, with the castle surrounded by parliamentary troops, the stage was set for battle.

19.50 – 21.43

An expert on Civil War cannons shows us how these were used.

21.44 – 23.56

This section describes what conditions were like during the siege and some of the warfare techniques used, such as how muskets were fired.

26.37 – 32. 07

The next stage of the siege is described and we see the difference that is made by Sir Thomas Fairfax arriving at Raglan with 'Roaring Meg', a deadly new mortar piece. An army doctor explains what effect this weapon would have had on its target.

32.08 – 37.23

We hear a description of the surrender of the Marquis and the aftermath of the siege, and we learn how parliament ordered that castles be destroyed.

37.24 – 47.19

The demolition of castles was half-hearted and in many cases they didn't bother at first. Marc explains the rebellion at Pontefract Castle, the execution of Charles I and the end of the English Civil War. We learn how, in the aftermath, many castles were partially demolished using undermining techniques. Raglan Castle was completed gutted.

47.20 – 48.08

In conclusion, Marc describes the Civil War as the last time that castles were really used for defensive purposes.