The Civil War in the West

Page 1 of 6

• 1. Caught in the conflict
• 2. Divisions
• 3. Balance of power
• 4. Increased pressure
• 5. The end of the war
• 6. Find out more
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Caught in the conflict

'...no more than 20-25% of the adult males in the country actually fought...'

The counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire were of prime importance during the Civil War for the supply of food, uniforms and munitions. The area also controlled vital routes by road and river and the three lucrative ports of Bristol, Minehead and Gloucester. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the western counties were fiercely contested and constantly alive with the movement of troops. It should be remembered, however, that the war was not a total war in the modern sense, involving the whole population, but rather a war between two competing armies which manoeuvred around the country fighting occasional battles, frequent skirmishes and numerous sieges. Indeed, it is estimated that no more than 20-25% of the adult males in the country actually fought at some time in the war.

Nevertheless, many families in the western counties found themselves caught up in the conflict. When war came, divisions rapidly appeared. Families were torn apart. During the storming of Wardour Castle in 1644, for instance, a royalist musketeer named Hilsdean was mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he suddenly realised to his horror that he had been shot by his own brother, who was a member of the parliamentarian garrison.

Neighbours were torn apart. Sir William Bassett, Lord of the Manor at Claverton, decided after much wavering to support the king - but the rector of the little church next door to the manor house was Humphrey Chambers, a firebrand puritan and a keen supporter of parliament.

Friends were torn apart. When Sir William Waller commanded parliament's forces at the Battle of Lansdown in 1643, he came face-to-face on the battlefield with his lifelong friend, Sir Ralph Hopton, who led the royalist army.

Counties were torn apart. Somerset was parliamentarian in the north and royalist in the south. Although all sixteen of the MPs who represented the county had criticised the king and his policies when the Long Parliament met in 1640, only five of them actually fought against him when it came to war in 1642.

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Published: 2001-04-01