The armies and wars of the Sun King 1643-1715. Volume 5: Buccaneers and soldiers in the Americas René Chartrand.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldiers-Buccaneers-Sun-King-1643-1715/dp/191507035X

5 stars

A must-have book on the campaigns in the Caribbean.

This book is excellent and it is well worth getting. It is a serious military history of the late 17th and early 18th centuries in the Caribbean and elsewhere. It is part of a series but can be taken on its own as its subject matter is different. For what I think is a first Chartrand and artist Patrice Courcelle recreate the buccaneers, colonial soldiers and militia of this age which inspired so much interest in fiction and movies.

If you are a wargamer, or you have an interest in the age of piracy this book is for you. My favourite book of this year so far.

Sedgemoor Pinterest page

https://pin.it/bknoazmpffncal

First Foot Guards 1685 Sealed Knot

Lorna Doone 150th events

The popular novel is set in the West Country. Events here

Bridport Monmouth Rebellion Guided Walk

New venture

This July in Lyme Regis (2017)

June 11th 1685. The Duke of Monmouth lands at Lyme Regis with 83 men to raise a Protestant army against James II, and begin what was to be England’s last rebellion against the Crown. Five weeks later and with a 3000-strong army swelled by dissenting men and women from Devon, Dorset and Somerset, Monmouth prepared to fight the last ever pitched battle on English soil, and to take the first step towards modern democracy.

This new play will be staged during the last three weekends of July 2017 as our next Community Play with an expected cast and crew of 100 people, in partnership with the Arts University Bournemouth.

Performances (times to be confirmed) will be on:

Friday 7th July
Saturday 8th July
Sunday 9th July
Thursday 13th July
Friday 14th July
Saturday 15th July

We’d love to hear from anyone interested in being involved onstage or backstage. All ages and abilities are welcome! If you are interested please email: officeassistant@marinetheatre.com.

Casting will take place on Monday 27th February 5.30pm-8.30pm and Monday 6th March 5.30-6.30pm.

In the build up to 'Monmouth' there’s a host of talks, films and events throughout the Spring at the Marine exploring the history behind the play in our ‘Monmouth Events’ series (see www.marinetheatre.com for details).

Blake Museum Bridgwater

A must visit Museum with a considerable amount of Monmouth items. Have a well stocked gift shop ioo

Judge Jeffreys and Dorchester

Here for more

Three Swans Frome

No particular connection to the Rebellion but it was certainly there at the time of Monmouth's visit and is in the heart of Frome a place with a deep history in Somerset.

Lyme Regis Monmouth Rebellion Presentation & Play Reading | Thursday 9th February 2017

Details

6pm

Presentation: The Monmouth Rebellion and the journey to Sedgemoor
Chris Copson, Curator of The Keep Military Museum, Dorset

Chris Copson acts as the curator of The Keep Military Museum in Dorchester and is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the Monmouth Rebellion. Join him for a unique and captivating presentation detailing how the revolt played out from its origin to its culmination at Sedgemoor.

followed by

7pm

Play-reading:

Monmouth writer Andrew Rattenbury (Golden Hour, Doc Martin) gives us a sneak preview of our new community play, Monmouth.

Days of King Monmouth Ralph Mitchard

An A4, 46 page booklet in colour and b/w featuring a guide to the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 so you can see where they were on a particular day. This is the second printing and it has more colour artwork and photos.
More information on the Monmouth Rebellion in my book. Buy it here

Lyme's next community play to capture the history of the Monmouth Rebellion

News article about Lyme's new community play.

Taunton Castle

Taunton castle wikipedia
It was in the Great Hall, in 1685, that Judge Jeffreys held the Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion.^[6] Of more than 500 supporters of James Monmouth brought before the court on the 18 and 19 September 144 were hanged and their remains displayed around the county to ensure people understood the fate of those who rebelled against the king.^[6]

Haunted Taunton Castle

The Museum of Somerset: Scene depicting The Bloody Assizes

Lyme Regis

Any Monmouth tour needs to take in Lyme as it was then known. Maybe a good place to stay is Old Monmouth
Maybe after a walk on Monmouth beach and the Cobb a pint at the Royal Standard is in order.

Francis Hawley Grenadier officer 1685

Led the Grenadiers at Philips Norton (Norton St Philip)

Sedgemoor Inn Westonzoyland

Here for details

A visit to the battlefield is always worth trying. This pub should be useful as a pit stop. Stock Thatchers Heritage Draught Cider, Thatchers Cider (4.9%)
History
Review by the 17th century Lady

 Haunted pub the Sedgemoor Inn 

Bath City Walls

Medieval Wall The last part of the wall that surrounded Bath. Located in Upper Borough Walls opposite The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases BA1 1RL. The picture shows the outside of the wall, so outside of the city limits.

Bath was summoned - in bravado but the herald was shot dead by one of the Somerset Militia manning the walls

The Eastgate is the last survivor of the gates to the medieval city of Bath (the north, west and south gates were demolished 1754-76). It originally led to the city mill and the ferry to Bathwick.

Monmouth in Bridgwater

Somerset Rural Life Museum Glastonbury

Closed at the moment for refurbishment - reopening in 2017 
This is a tithe barn originally part of the Abbey at Glastonbury. Monmouth's army camped here and lit huge fires to dry their clothes. 

1685 Society in the Museums rear

Longbridge House Shepton Mallet

Bed and Breakfast property associated with the Monmouth Rebellion. Monmouth's army visited Shepton twice during the campaign

Mark Vaughan tells me the Taunton Garrison did a Monmouth event there a few years back.