Free English Civil War lecture hosted by University Centre Shrewsbury

News from our partners University Centre Shrewsbury

Dr Jonathan Worton will be presenting the Civil War lecture at Rowley’s House

The often overlooked events of the English Civil War in Shropshire will be brought to the fore by a county historian at a free lecture hosted by University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS).

The talk, “Organising a Civil War: Roundheads in Shropshire, 1642 to 1646”, will be presented by Dr Jonathan Worton at Rowley’s House on Wednesday 10 February 2016.

People are invited to hear the lecture from 1pm to 2.15pm.

The talk is one of a series of lunchtime lectures at Rowley’s House on military history, which are part of a wider programme of public events run by UCS. Admission to the lecture is free but booking is essential as places are limited.

Dr Worton said:

“Although the course of the First English Civil War, 1642 to 1646, in Shropshire has often been overlooked, the county experienced a prolonged and often intense local war.

“From 1642, with Shropshire going over to King Charles I, the conflict involved the gradual re-conquest of the county by Parliamentary forces led by local activists who had fled at the outbreak of war.

“The lecture considers the ways in which the Shropshire Parliamentarians – the ‘Roundheads’ – a minority party in an apparently strongly Royalist shire, organised their war effort and achieved military success in, in effect, invading their home county.”

Dr Worton lives near Shrewsbury and as a military historian has researched, in particular, the Civil War period in Shropshire, Wales and neighbouring counties. His book, To Settle the Crown: Waging Civil War in Shropshire, 1642-1648, based on his PhD thesis, will be published in March 2016.

To book places for the lecture email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or call 01743 297185.

Alternatively, people can visit Rowley’s House, Barker Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QH, or Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ. The helpdesk at Rowley’s House is open 11am to 2pm Monday to Thursday. The information point at Guildhall is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays.

For further details on UCS events go to www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/public-events.