CHARLES CORDELL

The Storming of Bristol 1643 – Battlefield Walk and Talk
2024-06-08 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Brandon Hill, Brandon Hill Park, Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
The Storming of Bristol 1643 – a guided battlefield walk of the key sites and events of 26 July 1643.
Charles Cordell will describe the background and assaults made by the King’s Western and Oxford armies on the City. The walk will trace the line of the western defensive works, before following the route of Prince Rupert’s break in.
The meeting point will be on Brandon Hill Fort, at the base of the Cabot Tower, at 15:00. The walk will aim to finish at the site of the Parliamentary headquarters, on Broad Street, at 17:00. It will include the sites of Prior’s Hill Fort, Washington’s Breach and the Essex Work.
This Storming of Bristol 1643 event will be free for Battlefields Trust members. Non-members will be asked to make a small donation to support the Trust’s work in protecting and promoting Britain’s battlefields.
Background reading can be found on this website at: English Civil War Notes and Maps, including The General Crisis of the 17th Century, the English Revolution, Pike and Shot Warfare and the Storming of Bristol in 1643 (coming soon).

Siege of Devizes 1643 – battlefield walk & talk
2024-06-06 15:00 - 17:00 | St James’s Church, 1 Church Walk, Devizes, SN10 3AA, United Kingdom
The Siege of Devizes 1643 battlefield walk. A guided battlefield walk and discussion of the key sites and events of 9-13 July 1643.
Charles Cordell will describe the background to and key events of the siege. This will include the breakout by Prince Maurice and the King’s Western Army horse. It will also cover the bombardment and assaults by William Waller’s Western Association on the town. Lastly, Charles Cordell will describe the final relief at the Battle of Roundway Down.
The meeting point will be at St Jame’s Church, on the Green, at 15:00. The walk will aim to finish at the Market Place at about 17:00. There should then be an opportunity for further discussion in a nearby inn.
This Siege of Devizes 1643 battlefield walk will be free for Battlefields Trust members. Non-members will be asked to make a small donation to support the Trust’s work in protecting and promoting Britain’s battlefields.
You can access background reading on this website at: English Civil War Notes and Maps. These include The General Crisis of the 17th Century, the English Revolution, Pike and Shot Warfare and the Siege of Devizes in 1643 (coming soon).

Devizes Books – Civil War fiction Book Signing
2024-06-06 10:00 - 13:00 | Devizes Books, Handel House, Sidmouth Street, Devizes, SN10 1LD, United Kingdom
Devizes Books – Civil War fiction book signing. Charles Cordell will be signing copies of Divided Kingdom book #2 – The Keys of Hell and Death.
The story opens with the brutal Battle of Lansdown Hill. Its characters – ordinary men and women – face each other and the terrible reality of war. They must survive the Siege of Devizes, the Battle of Roundway Down and the Storming of Bristol in 1643. The writing has already received high praise and endorsements from David Gilman (award winning Master of War author) and Professor Ronald Hutton CBE (TV historian).
The Keys of Hell and Death will be published on 4 June. It is available now for pre-order. You can order it from Devizes Books at Bookshop.org, or from Topping, Foyles, Waterstones and Booktopia, as well as Amazon.
To join the Devizes Books Civil War fiction signing, please check event details and availability via the event website. For more author talks, book signing and battlefield walks with Charles Cordell, please check out the events list at Charles Cordell Events.

The Keys of Hell and Death – Book Launch at Topping’s Bath
2024-06-04 18:30 | Topping Bookshop, York Street, Bath, BA1 1NG, United Kingdom
The Keys of Hell and Death book launch – English Civil War fiction series Divided Kingdom book #2 by Charles Cordell – will be published on Tuesday 4 June 2024.
The book opens with the brutal Battle of Lansdown Hill. Its characters – ordinary men and women – face each other and the terrible reality of war. They must survive the Siege of Devizes, the Battle of Roundway Down and the ferocious Storming of Bristol in 1643.
Within Bath, the story includes scenes set in the King’s Bath (Roman Baths) and city. The writing has already received high praise and endorsements from David Gilman (award winning Master of War author), Professor Ronald Hutton CBE (TV historian) and others.
Topping & Company will host The Keys of Hell and Death book launch at their wonderful bookshop in Bath. This should be a relaxed, fun evening event with Civil War re-enactors and a great crowd. To join this event, book your place via the Topping’s Event Page, or click the event link below. Early bird tickets are available. Doors open from 18:30.
If you can’t make the launch event, The Keys of Hell and Death is available now for pre-order. You will find it with Topping, Foyles, Waterstones, Blackwells, Bookshop.org and Booktopia, as well as Amazon.

Siege of Conwy 1646 – Living History at Plas Mawr
2024-04-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Plas Mawr, High Street, Conwy, Wales, LL32 8DE
The Siege of Conwy 1646 event at Plas Mawr – the finest Elizabethan town house in Britain. Meet the soldiers of the garrison and their families. Hear their stories and fears after four years of Civil War. Listen to the talk in the gatehouse on the British Civil Wars in North Wales. Join the discussion on the story of the siege, of how Bishop John Williams – Archbishop of York – was wounded storming the walls, Sir John Owens‘ defiance and the mystery of the missing silver.
You can read about the background to the Siege of Conwy in 1646, on this website. Read how and why the British Civil Wars started – on the General Crisis of the 17th Century and the Great Rebellion – at English Civil War Notes & Maps.
