A Civil War Walk – All for Research Purposes!

A little while ago, I went over to Chester to watch the Midsummer Watch Parade of giant puppets in town – something which has a history going back 500 years. Those puppets have served as the inspiration for the December (and last) instalment of my Darklings series, although this one is set at the Winter Watch (with which I may have taken liberties!). At present it’s called To the Beat of the Drum, but that may change.

Anyway, the period in which it is written is December 1646, several months after the siege of the city had ended in February of that year. Initially a Royalist stronghold, the Parliamentarians were able to defeat the King’s army at nearby Rowton Heath, subsequently causing Charles I to flee the city. The remaining forces in Chester held out against the besiegers until February 1646 when the walls were breached.

Above is the bridge across which Charles escaped.

Whilst I have taken some liberties with the period, I have been trying to incorporate real aspects of the city from that period, a number of which are still in evidence today. One thing I had been trying to discover was the building from which most governance was carried out – it took me hours yesterday to find that it was known as Common Hall and this was in the converted St. Nicholas’ chapel. I found that building today, but look what it houses now! From mayors and aldermen to cosmetics …

Fun fact: apparently this building was also once a theatre and Charles Dickens performed here.

We (my lovely husband, Geraint, was keeping me company) then followed a self-guided civil war walk and trekked round the city walls and along the old city streets to help me get my bearings for the story, much of which takes place in the centre in the vicinity of the Rows – those upper galleries of shops you can see like those shown in the pictures below.

It was a really enjoyable walk, rounded off with a quick visit to Waterstones (which also occupies an upper gallery in one of the Rows). Once I got home, I carried on writing the story which currently stands at 8000 words so only 2000 to go, and let’s say those 2000 are the final chapter and it’s all about to go horribly wrong for my protagonist.

In terms of history, the English Civil War and following Commonwealth/Protectorate is one of the most fascinating in English history and yet it seems to be neglected. Tudors, Victorians, Stuarts, are all popular, but this period when the world turned upside down does not get the same attention. Yet it’s a period when authority was turned on its head, when radical religious and social movements appeared, when even women started to gain some leadership and take action and so many ideas swirled around. Yes, a violent time, but so much seemed possible before the status quo was … almost … resumed with the restoration of the monarchy. I just find it a shame that these people seem to warrant only a tiny part of the history section in bookshops.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading. I’ve almost finished The Blazing World and then have The Restless Republic and The Levellers (Putney Debates) to read. It’s not all been just for this story, but also served for my historical mystery, Women of the Witch Eye, which I am currently trying to home and which will be developed into a series – even if I self-publish. And I know I will return to this era for other stories in the future!