Battle of Stratton 1643 - battlefield walk & talk
2026-05-10 10:30 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | Preston Gate Inn, Poughill Road, Poughill, Bude, EX23 9ET, United Kingdom
Battle of Stratton 1643 – English Civil War turning point
The Battle of Stratton 1643 – a battle that turned the tide of the English Civil War in the West. This is an opportunity to explore a nationally significant Cornish battlefield. Join Charles Cordell on Sunday 10 May 2026 – ahead of the 382nd anniversary, 16 May 1643.
Battle of Stratton 1643 – Stamford Hill walk
The royalist victory at Stratton was hard-won. The Cornish foot defeated a well-positioned and numerically superior parliamentarian force on Stamford Hill outside Bude in Cornwall. The victorious Cornish Army then fought its way to Bath and the brutal Battle of Lansdown Hill. Sadly, it went on to sustain terrible losses at the Storming Bristol on 26 July 1643.
A morning walk will follow the lanes up which the Cornish foot fought. It will end at the Battle of Stratton memorial on Stamford Hill. The walk will last approximately two hours and will include discussion of the key role played by Cornwall in the English Civil War. Stout footwear is recommended.
The meeting point for the walk will be at the Preston Gate Inn in Poughill near Bude EX23 9ET (OS: SS 223078), at 10:30 on Sunday 10 May. Car parking at the pub is limited (please check with staff). However, there is a free village carpark at the cemetery, off Northcott Mouth Road (OS: SS 222079).
Although not part of this Battlefields Trust walk, those interested may wish to also visit St Andrew’s Church and/or the Tree Inn in Stratton. The church includes a good display of artifacts from the battlefield. The Tree Inn was the home of Anthony Payne the ‘Cornish Giant’. As steward and ensign to Sir Bevil Grenville, he fought at the battles of both Stratton and Lansdown Hill in 1643.
Please check out the Battlefield Trust website for more details. If you can, please do sign up ahead of this walk to give an indication of numbers.

The Battlefields Trust – protecting Britain’s battlefields

This Battle of Stratton 1643 walk will be free for Battlefield Trust members. Non-members are asked to make a (small) donation to the trust. This will support its work in protecting and promoting understanding of Britain’s battlefields. Donations (cash or online) can be made on the day of the walk.

For more author talks and battlefield walks with Charles Cordell, please check out Charles Cordell Events.

Battle of Worcester 375 – English Civil War fiction
2026-08-30 13:00 - 14:30 | The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester, WR1 2HU, United Kingdom
English Civil War fiction – an author talk
Battle of Worcester 375 anniversary talk. Author Charles Cordell will be talking about writing historical fiction and Divided Kingdom book #2 – The Keys of Hell and Death. He will describe his journey from ‘Army to Author’ and writing historical fiction set within the English Civil War. The talk will discuss how and why 17th Century historical fiction can feel so relevant today. Q&A and a book signing will follow the talk.
Charles Cordell is the author of English Civil War historical fiction series Divided Kingdom. His writing has received media praise and editorial reviews, including in The Times. His novels have been endorsed by the likes of Ben Kane (bestselling author), David Gilman (award winning author), Professor Ronald Hutton CBE (TV historian) and others.
Battle of Worcester 375
This talk is part of a commemorative programme of events for the 375th anniversary of the Battle of Worcester, 1651. It will be held at The Commandery in Worcester, the site of the royalist HQ during the last battle of the English Civil War.
To join this English Civil War fiction author talk, please do check details on The Commandery website. If you can, come along and join the debate.
Charles Cordell – books, talks & battlefield walks
If you can’t make this event, copies of Charles Cordell’s books are available from Waterstones, Foyles, and good independent bookshops, including Worcester’s Script Haven bookshop. They are also available online from Amazon, Bookshop.org and Booktopia. Please do check out the book pages for reviews and links at Charles Cordell Books. You can also loan copies from UK libraries, including The Hive library in Worcester.
For more author talks and battlefield walks with Charles Cordell, please check out Charles Cordell Events.
