Remains of Sandown Castle circa1900
Picture can be seen
http://www.northdowns.plus.com/dealweb/history-deal/sandowncastle.html
Oh my what a wonderful part of history, my head is swimming with names, places and events, the major ones are easy to find but the little ones in the southeast a bit of a pickle, only little tit bits here and there.
The one that really interests me is Boys landing to claim back forts along the Downs! The south east Revolted on hearing there Christmas ruined! How wonderful, the startings of ECW part 2
Here's some more information !
http://www.kentpast.co.uk/dover_castle.html
"At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, Dover town sided with Parliament while the castle garrison supported the king. That August a small party of townsfolk daringly scaled the cliffs, surprised the garrison and captured the castle, which fell with hardly a shot fired."
http://www.earlrivers.org.uk/regimental-history/sir-john-boys
"On 21 May 1648, Kent rose in revolt in the King’s name, (The Second English Civil War, 1648–1649). A naval revolt broke out on 27 May when ships of the Parliamentarian fleet declared for the King. Threatened from the sea, the three artillery forts that guarded the anchorage of the Downs, Deal, Sandown and Walmer surrendered to the Royalists and Dover castle was besieged."
http://nelsonlambert.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/civil-war-in-kent-1643.html?m=1
"Kent was important for three reasons, as a source of Royalist troops, for communications to Dover and the Continent, but also for the Wealden iron working industry. It's hard to see today, but the Weald, an area of about 500 sq miles in Kent and Sussex, was a major source of iron as it had the ore easily available, and trees to provide charcoal. The whole area was dotted with furnaces, and many of the cannon and cannon balls used in the Civil War came from there. The village of Horsemonden, for example, had a furnace employing over 200 men, supplying cannon to the army and navy (and both sides in the Civil War!). "
http://bcw-project.org/military/second-civil-war/kent-essex
Fairfax sent a detachment under Colonel Rich to recapture Dover Castle and the forts at Deal, Walmer and Sandown then set off in pursuit of the Earl of Norwich with his main force. Colonel Rich spent three months in reducing the Kentish castles: Dover surrendered on 6 June, Walmer on 12 July, Deal on 25 August and Sandown on 5 September.
http://www.dovermuseum.co.uk/Dover-History/Tudor--Stuart.aspx
" During the reign of Charles I, Dover declared against the King in the Civil War but enthusiastically welcomed the return of his son Charles II to England via Dover beach, in 1660."
http://www.northdowns.plus.com/dealweb/history-deal/sandowncastle.html
"Henry's invasion fears came to nothing and the diminished threat led to Sandown and its neighbouring castles being allowed to fall into disrepair by the early 1600s. The outbreak of the English Civil War in August 1642 saw the three local castles held by Royalist forces. This was short-lived and, after a week, they were seized by the Parliamentarians. "
I'm definatly going to have to do a battle report for this guy
Sir John Boys