THE TOWN WELL FORTIFIED: The Fortresses of the Civil Wars in Britain, 1639-1660

1-241280

Between 1639 and 1660, more than 1,000 towns, villages, castles, manor houses, and other places across England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales were fortified. They ranged in complexity from the simple strengthening of existing medieval walls to the sophisticated re-fortification of major towns. This book examines 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 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. Includes recent archaeological investigations such as current and yet largely unpublished investigations at Kings Lynn, London, and the Isle of Man.