Cannon Played from the Great Fort

The battlefields of Edgehill, Newbury and Marston Moor are the first terms that come to mind when discussing the 17th-century conflict known as the English Civil War, and whilst their importance to the conflict is undeniable, they detract from the power struggle that occurred between the Royalists and Parliamentarians in the towns and cities throughout the land. This power struggle culminated in the construction of siege batteries and fortifications. Focusing on the Severn Valley region of England, this book examines, through archaeological, topographic, cartographic and historical research, the sieges of Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury, demonstrating how siege techniques and this style of warfare impacted on the outcome of the conflict that set brother against brother and father against son.

"...an important addition to the study of the English Civil War." Wargames Illustrated  

"Richard Israel’s book is a valuable addition to the literature covering Civil War Worcestershire and the region. However, it is clear that the stories of the sieges described here are by no means settled, and that further archaeological research in particular is likely to provide new discoveries." Worcestershire Recorder, Autumn 2022

"This book focuses on the siege warfare in the Severn region, a river on the edge of England and Country of Wales, on the side of Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester. This aspect of the war is very often neglected, even forgotten." Vae Victus Magazine 160

"Too little academic writing takes full account of the great body of grey literature available. Many influential archaeological studies rely too heavily on material that should have been, if not superseded, then expanded by the reports of commercial archaeologists. Richard Israel is to be commended very highly for his thorough knowledge and excellent use of the grey literature relating to Civil War archaeology in the Severn Valley....this is a book that will be of use to professional archaeologists/ historians, local historians, students and interested amateurs. I would recommend it to all such. It is one of a series on European warfare between 1618 and 1721 published Helion. I have already underlined several of the other titles listed. If Cannon Played from the Great Fort is anything to go by, they will be well worth reading." Chartered Insitute for Archaeologists