Gloucester Siege
by Russell Grant
Understanding Gloucester 's geographical position as the lowest bridging point on the River Severn and its fine highway position between London , Oxford and Wales and the North, Midlands with Wales and the South West, gives you the explicit reasons why it is a very attractive prize for any invader who wants to secure the west of England and Wales .
This was no secret, especially to the good folks of Gloucester who In August 1642 formed a Defence Council and the Mayor ordered the city gates to be locked between 9 pm and sunrise. By the autumn the city came out in full support for Oliver Cromwell and Parliament and became a fiercely loyal stronghold for the Roundheads under the precocious leadership of the 23 year old Governor Edward Massey (or Massie) who entered the city complete with an infantry and two troops of horse. Gloucester was asking for trouble with such defiant action as King Charles and his army needed the city to win the war, especially considering Bristol and shire were under King and Crown and only this great city was playing hard to get. The urgency for capture was increased as Parliament held only two other ports - Plymouth and Hull - emphasizing Gloucester 's importance to both sides.
The city's proximity to the Forest of Dean, which had useful iron ore deposits but under Royalist control, made it necessary for the Gloucester Garrison to keep enemy troops in check and prevent them breaking out in the direction of the city and beyond with supplies.
It was early 1643 Colonel Massey pulled together his inadequate defence force of around 1700 men and horse; he called on all willing hands to repair the city's Roman walls, castle and throw up earthworks to protect Gloucester. It wasn't long before the Cavaliers appeared on the horizon ready for action and to seize the city. As the King's army drew closer the Town Clerk ordered that the Priory Church Tower be demolished to deny the King's men a vantage point that could be used as a viewfinder to aim their guns.
The King stationed himself at Matson House about two miles to the southeast of the city, and guaranteed Gloucestrians a pardon if they came over to his side. Any thought of surrender was anathema and blatantly refused. To prove how much Gloucester ranked as a cherished desire to Charles I he gave the offensive and initiative to his nephew, the dashing Prince Rupert of the Rhine, who stationed himself at Prinknash Park just over 4 miles to the southeast. The two sides lined up thus: King - around 30,000 men and artillery v Parliament - 1700 men including horse; the siege of Gloucester began on August 10 th 1643.
If it wasn't for the weather, unusually bad for August, the King's troops would have undermined the city walls via the tunnels they had dug. Those villages, farms and buildings outside the walls that hadn't been destroyed by Parliament to prevent them becoming refuge to the Royalists, were now taken by the King whose men had also knocked-out the city's water supply from Robinswood Hill.
Word was despatched to Roundhead top dog, the Earl of Essex, back in London , that Gloucester was under siege, and his force was needed to relieve and save the city. Without further ado 15,000 militia went west and by September 5 th the King and his men had heard the Earl was already at Cheltenham and with a feeling of desolation soon left their post and withdrew to Painswick. By the 6th it was all over, Gloucester was back carrying on Parliamentary business.
That was Gloucester 's moment of Civil War glory complete, apart from a few odds and ends its garrison remained alert and ready if called upon. On April 22 nd 1645 Prince Rupert faced a force from Gloucester at Ledbury, Herefordshire and won. In May, Evesham was wrested from the King by the Gloucester Garrison under siege hero Edward Massey. During March 1646 the combined Evesham and Gloucester garrisons proved too much for Lord Astley on his way to the King at Oxford , his Lordship was completely overwhelmed at Stow on the Wold on March 20 th and by the morning of the 21 st he had surrendered and his army dispersed.
Cromwell visited the city in 1648 en route for Wales but as to where he fed and watered is unknown. In 1651 the Royalists rose again as Charles made another attempt to take back his throne this time at Worcester, Gloucester's rulers continued to support Cromwell sending guns, food and ale, and after the victory a gift of lampreys (eel-like delicacies from the River Severn).
In July 1657 Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector but despite support for Parliament the city was inches away from losing its greatest treasure, the cathedral. The Puritans thought it cost far too much and didn't bring in enough to warrant its existence! Thank goodness their short-sightedness didn't prevail considering how many visitors it brings to this fine city, to this day. The then Bishop of Gloucester, Godfrey Goodman left before the religious iconoclasts could set about their destruction – the Roundheads did manage take as much as they could from his own house, however. That's twice the cathedral was saved once by Henry VIII and now by the people.
Come 1660 with the Civil War ended, the Republic was abandoned and Restoration celebrated, despite a vow of allegiance from the city's rulers, Gloucester was to bear the brunt of Royal revenge. All those defences that had protected the city against the crown were destroyed in 1661; the walls, gates and the massive Norman castle were flattened.
In 1662, as if to keep his eye on the city, a statue of Charles II, was unveiled at the northern end of the Wheat Market in Southgate Street and now stands rather worse for wear in Three Cocks Lane . Before it lost its lustre it certainly had the desired effect on Edward Massey who left Cromwell's cause due to idealistic differences between himself and Parliament and joined with Charles. He went to Scotland on behalf of the king and fought for him against his former Puritan masters being wounded at Upton upon Severn just before the Battle of Worcester afterwards he escaped to France .
Charles II became King of Scotland England May 29 th 1660 and Massey returned to Gloucester just before in April 1660 and was elected MP for the city – although not unanimously by any means – he was eventually knighted by a grateful Charles and became Governor of Jamaica.
The bases of the Eastgate Tower and adjacent ditches have been revealed through excavation and really worth taking a look.
The churches of St Mary de Lode and Holy Trinity were used as prisons during the war and St Mary de Crypt an ammunition dump.
By the way don't be taken in by the sign on the corner of 26 Westgate Street and Maverdine Lane that wrongly states Edward Massie was installed here during the Siege, my good friend Phil Moss, Mr Gloucester, tells me that he wasn't! It may have been the next road down and someone must have miscalculated.
However, the building in question which has served many purposes including a Assize Judge lodgings is quite superb; a glorious timber framed house built in the 1500s, four storeys high and undoubtedly one of the finest examples of its kind anywhere. It is best viewed from the inside by popping into the shop and up the stairs and outside by going down Maverdine Lane and looking up: enjoy.
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| Russell Grant interviews Susan Hamilton, to find out the facts about Gloucester Cathedral. Please feel free to download the audio files for your MP3 player or to listen to on your PC: |
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Russell interviews Greg Ward at Country House Hotel & Restaurant in Gloucester
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