The Town Well Fortified

Between 1639 and 1660, more than 1,000 places across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were fortified. These included towns and villages, castles and manor houses, as well as new places of strength. They ranged in complexity from the simple strengthening of existing medieval walls to the sophisticated re-fortification of major towns. Often overlooked in the context of European military engineering, and in terms of the so-called ‘military revolution’ of the period, the design and construction of the Civil War fortress progressed during the period, evolving from the basic ditch and rampart of the early years of the fighting to the massive stone-built citadels of the Protectorate.

Over half of these so-called ‘fortified places’ witnessed some sort of military action, although it is wrong to conclude that the fortress warfare of the period was purely about sieges. The Town Well Fortified is a brand-new study which looks at the strategic and tactical importance of fortifications, and their influence on the respective war effort of all sides, particularly in terms of logistics, and the concept of ‘protected corridors’ which connected key locations and dominated campaigns. The book also places the fortress in its geographical context, and considers how the local topography influenced placement and design. Given the years of peace enjoyed by much of the Three Kingdoms prior to the Civil Wars, it is no surprise that fortress construction was heavily influenced by European practice, although the fortified landscape prior to 1639, including a heritage stretching back as far as Roman times (and beyond), was also important.

The design and construction of the fortifications is also considered, both in terms of the theory, especially from the military manuals of the time, and then the practice, including several contemporary and eyewitness accounts. The book also examines actual numbers, locations, and types of fortresses, including an assessment of the type of fort known as a ‘sconce’.

Secondary sources have been re-examined, and brought together with ongoing research, including recent archaeological investigations (which, among other things, consider just how earthworks were built), in this ground breaking-study which offers a fresh interpretation of the subject of fortresses during the Civil Wars. The use of up-to-date research is reflected in the book’s spotlight on the current and yet largely unpublished investigations at King’s Lynn, London, and the Isle of Man. But the inclusion of findings from the Civil War Fortifications Register project ensures this book genuinely encompasses the whole of Britain and Ireland.

This is the result of more than thirty years of research, including the author’s thorough and ongoing study of London’s fortifications, the King’s Lynn under Siege archaeological project, and the results from the development of a register identifying every place fortified during the Civil Wars across the entire British Isles.

"This volume on Fortresses of the British Civil Wars is absolutely lovely! Dealing with the theory and practice of their construction, giving full consideration of all the different sub-types, it really looks at how British ideas on fortification developed over a century or so, with a particularly interesting chapter comparing the 1640's defences of London and Oxford. Definitely belongs on every bookshelf dealing with the military history of the period." Steve Stanley

"This book is well written and clearly a labour of love for the author. It is nicely illustrated with a range of contemporary drawings and modern-day photographs of various surviving fortifications. A very useful book for those with an intimate or passing interest in the British Civil Wars and fortified places in particular." carryongonupthedale blog

....."The book is well written and authoritative, and strongly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in the subject matter - I already find it a very useful reference volume." Cromwelliana 2024, The Journal of the Cromwell Association

"...Ultimately, this is the perfect combination of historical accounts and archaeology. Detailing the historical, contextual and technical aspects of fortress building during the British Civil Wars, this important work should be on your shelf. I wish I’d had this book during my Master’s Degree." Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy Magazine