Hartlebury Castle and Village at War: New Archaeological Discoveries and Untold Civil War Stories
Join archaeologist Tim Cornah for a fascinating journey into one of Worcestershire’s most overlooked Civil War sites, revealing remarkable new discoveries that are rewriting the story of Hartlebury Castle during the turbulent years of the 1640s.
The story began during the summer drought of 2022 when drone photography revealed a mysterious crop mark on high ground east of Hartlebury Castle. Initial investigation suggested it could be a Civil War earthwork. Excavations in 2023 confirmed the exciting suspicion: the feature was a previously unknown Royalist bastion – the first confirmed defensive work associated with the castle’s recorded Civil War garrison.
Further archaeological excavations in 2024 uncovered significant new evidence about the bastion’s design and construction, including the intriguing remains of what appears to have been a circular timber firing step or walkway outside the ditch – a feature for which archaeologists currently know of no direct parallel.
But the archaeology is only half the story.
Recently a newly discovered contemporary document has shed extraordinary new light on Hartlebury’s Civil War history. Providing rare insights into the lives of villagers caught up in the conflict, it also points to the existence of siege works that may once have faced the newly discovered bastion.
For the first time, archaeology and original historical research are brought together to reveal a vivid picture of Hartlebury Castle and village at war. From newly uncovered fortifications to the experiences of local people living through siege and occupation, this talk offers a unique opportunity to discover how fresh evidence is transforming our understanding of a key Worcestershire Civil War site.
Whether you are interested in archaeology, local history, or the English Civil War, this promises to be an evening of exciting discoveries, new interpretations, and stories hidden for nearly 400 years
