Siege of York 1644 and other interesting 17th century things …

370 years ago, in 1644, York was surrounded by besieging armies, in the siege leading up to the battle of Marston Moor on 2 July.

A few plaques around the city mark this period in the city’s history. One plaque fell off the tower at the end of Marygate years ago and has never been replaced. Perhaps an indication of the general lack of interest. We’re big on our Viking and Roman history, and enthusiastic about many other periods — most recently Richard III’s time — but the 17th century? The siege of York doesn’t seem to have aroused much interest. This modest ebook would like to help with that, in its own small way.

Not boring at all …

Made from snippets of 17th century pamphlet

The Civil War period is I think often seen as rather dour and dull, and complicated, and hard to relate to. I thought so too, for many years. But eventually found a way in, and became a big fan of Thomas Fairfax, and an even bigger fan of 17th century pamphlets. And eventually set about writing this ’21st century pamphlet’ to share this enthusiasm, and to connect this important period in our history directly to the relevant locations in the city.

Here’s a Google map I made a few years back, showing many of them.

Bringing it home

When we focus on the military ‘action’ we’re missing a bigger picture, one most of us can relate to more easily: what it would have been like to live here, in York and the surrounding suburbs, to have opposing forces fighting in our midst. Contemporary accounts of the effects of the siege on the residents — as reported by chaplains and other observers, and included in the ebook — bring it to life, bring it home, to the streets of York and its suburbs.

There’s also a fair bit about the Fairfaxes, and Thomas in particular. A hero back then. Here he is, on his horse, in a 17th century engraving.

Other aspects of 17th century York are included, as relief from all the distress and destruction. Early hopes that York could have a university, King Charles playing ‘The Balloon’ …

Ebook revisited and revamped

I published an experimental version of this short ebook back in 2011 and about five people read it. I’ve been wanting to revisit it and republish it for some time now, and it seems the best time to do so. It’s 370 years since the siege, which at this time in 1644 was particularly intense. John Oxley, City of York Council archaeologist, is tweeting a day by day account of the events of 1644, and if this has kindled your interest, you might like this ebook for your Kindle … or indeed any other device.

How to buy >>

I hope you find it an interesting read.

You may also like to follow John Oxley, City of York Council archaeologist, who has been reporting the events of 1644 under #SoY on Twitter.

Lisa

‘Yorke’
30 June 2014

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July 2011

This brass plaque in the chapter house of York Minster remembers two members of the Fairfax family, and acknowledges their role in protecting the stained glass so many of us have gazed at in awe in the centuries since.

IN MEMORY OF FERDINANDO FAIRFAX, 1584-1647, AND THOMAS FAIRFAX, 1612-1671 SECOND AND THIRD LORDS FAIRFAX OF CAMERON AND GENERALS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FORCES, WHO DURING THE CIVIL WAR 1642-1646 PRESERVED FROM DESTRUCTION THE TREASURES OF GLASS OF YORK MINSTER. THIS WINDOW, RESTORED BY MEMBERS OF THE FAIRFAX FAMILY WAS UNVEILED BY ALBERT TWELFTH LORD FAIRFAX OF CAMERON, SEPTEMBER 14TH 1932.

Lord Ferdinando Fairfax was appointed governor of York in July 1644 after the Parliamentarian victory at Marston Moor and the ending of the siege of York around two weeks later. Sir Thomas Fairfax (who became Lord Fairfax after his father’s death in 1648) led the New Model Army to victory at Naseby.

The Fairfaxes had many Yorkshire properties, including homes in Bishophill, and Nun Appleton, where Thomas Fairfax spent his retirement. He died there and is buried at nearby Bilbrough.

There are several recorded instances of both Ferdinando and Thomas Fairfax taking care of items of antiquarian interest, preserving them for future generations.

Overshadowed by Cromwell

So, these local heroes are fondly remembered, of course.

Well, no. Their profile is so low that even archaeologists and journalists appear completely unaware of their existence. In recent years an excavation in the Fishergate area, connected with the siege of York in 1644, was widely reported as ‘containing the remains of Cromwell’s soldiers’, by the archaeologists, on their website, and by the local paper, and the Daily Mail, among others.

They weren’t ‘Cromwell’s soldiers’. They were ‘Fairfax’s soldiers’ (or perhaps Fairfaxes’ soldiers), if they were anybody’s – as the documentary on the excavation later made clear. The dead soldiers were from the forces led by Lord Ferdinando Fairfax – Sir Thomas was his second-in-command.

At least here in the Minster credit is given where credit is due.

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July 2011

A Google map showing the location of the city’s defences, damaged buildings, known homes of important personages, bridges of boats across the Ouse used by the besieging forces, etc.

Load the map in the enlarged view for the full key/list of features marked (opens in new browser window).

View Siege of York 1644 in a larger map

All information is correct to the best of my knowledge. If you want to amend/add anything, email me.

Sources

Contemporary accounts of the siege by Henry Slingsby, Christopher Hildyard, Simeon Ashe and others present.

Francis Drake, Eboracum (1736)

Peter Wenham, The Great and Close Siege of York, 1644 (1970)

Information on the city and abbey walls – Barbara Wilson and Frances Mee, The City Walls and Castles of York: the Pictorial Evidence (2005), and St Mary’s Abbey and the King’s Manor, York: the Pictorial Evidence (2009) – both available from York Archaeological Trust

. . . . . . . . .

Page compiled July 2011. Last updated: 10 January 2012.

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February 2011

Back in June 1644, during the siege of York, this was the site of a major explosion, collapsing stonework, and a frantic battle across bowling greens and orchards. In 2011, there were plans to site a massive observation wheel here – since abandoned.

Many men died here, after the only successful attempt to breach the city’s defences. St Mary’s Tower (visible at the back, with its conical roof) was partially destroyed in the attack. The besiegers entered, and as a contemporary observer on the Royalist side reports: ‘above forty of the Enemy were slain in the Garden and Bowling green’.

Sir Henry Slingsby (1602-1658) – a member of the Royalist garrison defending the city – also recorded the battle on the bowling greens in his diary:

So, in 1644 there was a bowling green in this area, and, more suprisingly, it had ‘doors’.

Sir Philip Byron (‘Biron’), mentioned above, is buried in York Minster, as is Major Richard Huddleston, who also died in the attack. Several parish churches, including St Olaves, just nearby, record burials of soldiers on the days following. Hildyard’s account gives special mention to ‘Samuel Breary … Lieutenant Colonel of a Company of 250 stout Volunteer Citizens, being shot with a poysoned Bullet into one of his Arms, four days after dyed.’

This particular bowling green, pictured in 2011, has been on the site for around a hundred years, apparently on land which was once part of the orchards mentioned above, and pasture within the abbey walls. The 17th century bowling green was a little closer to the King’s Manor buildings. As there were hundreds of men fighting here, the distinction isn’t really important, they would have covered the area between King’s Manor and St Mary’s Tower.

The bowling green will be lost soon, as there are plans to landscape the area as an extension of the Museum Gardens.

A reminder of a more recent conflict, alongside the bowling green – the hutments, built during the Second World War (since demolished).

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