They were rescued by Churchill and withdrew with approximately twenty casualties on each side; however, each side believed that the other had taken greater losses. His rebellion was coordinated with a simultaneous rising in Scotland, led by Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll. Living in a town is far more impersonal and there is not such a family feel about it. He planned to stay in Bridgwater until they returned and then break out and head for Bristol. [65] His men damaged the Bishop's Palace and the west front of Wells Cathedral, tearing lead from the roof to make bullets, breaking the windows, smashing the organ and the furnishings, and for a time stabling their horses in the nave. Somerset had not forgotten. Royalist forces were closing in meanwhile and Monmouths ships had been captured, making any thought of escape impossible. Donate [40] Following this confrontation, Lord Albemarle led a royalist force from Exeter towards the forces of the Duke of Somerset, who were approaching Lyme Regis from the opposite direction. The rebels never stood a chance. The George Inn [56][57][58][59][60][61], On 26 June, Monmouth moved towards Bath and, arriving on the south side of it, found it had also been occupied by royalist troops. In contrast James II had inherited from his brother a small but well trained, well equipped and ably led professional army. It can be reached on the Bath Frome bus service operated by First, the D2. However they were working people and not soldiers. Monmouths army had by now grown to between 6,000 and 7,000 souls, with the majority being Somerset peasants and miners, with smaller numbers from neighbouring counties. WebThe Monmouth Rebellion. John Masefield's 1910 novel Martin Hyde: The Duke's Messenger tells the story of a boy who plays a central part in the Monmouth Rebellion, from the meeting with Argyll in Holland to the failed rebellion itself. WebNorton St Philip Bath, BA2 7LY (01373) 834258. The Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 began in Lyme Regis and was crushed in the same year on Sedgemoor. This thickly populated area had a very strong woolen industry. A vicious and terrible repression followed, famously known as the Bloody Assizes, in Wells alone on a single day 500 men were tried and most sentenced to death. WebIn rolling Somerset countryside, Norton St Philip is a very pretty, charming little village, 9.6 km from Bath, Wells, Stonehenge and Cheddar Gorge. Our website. [6] The Earl of Shaftesbury, a former government minister and a leading opponent of Catholicism, attempted to have James excluded from the line of succession. In the light of propaganda suggesting the rebels had an army of 40,000 and that 500 royalist troops had been lost at Norton St Philip, Feversham was ordered to engage Monmouth's forces. Fletcher shot and killed Dare and was then put under arrest and sent back to the frigate Helderenberg. The last pitched-battle fought on English soil has been described many times, so suffice to say that Monmouths audacious attack failed, allegedly when a firearm was fired. On July 15th 1685 James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth, was executed for treason against the King. Frome rebels are reported to have also been hung, drawn and quartered at Gore Hedge, just past the top of what is now Bath Street. WebMonmouth at Norton St Philip, 26 June 1685 Feversham, moves his Army to Bath, and is joined by the infantry from London, and Churchills brigade. They were serious men, Dissenters in the main, who were very strict in their keeping of religion. [41], Monmouth learned of the approach of royalist reinforcements and departed, but instead of marching to London, he headed north with his force towards the county of Somerset. The George Inn plays an important role in the history of Great Britain. The plaque at Somerton tells a bit more of the story. Onthe 6th July 1685 the Duke of Monmouth similarly tried one last desperate attack. Most importantly, Churchill joined with Feversham at Bath. It was here that the rebel force was cornered when the royal army arrived on the 5th July, quartering 3 miles south east of Bridgewater at Westonzoyland and the adjacent villages of Middlezoy and Othery. It is unfair to characterise them as farm hands, as has sometimes happened in the past,because much of Monmouth's army was made up from professional men; his army may have lacked skill but they were very dedicated to the task. Churchill had been dispatched to Dorset to cut the rebels off from the channel ports and so Monmouth's army fell back into the south west. Our Regions I was in my late twenties when we moved to NSP and now I am in my 60s and the convenience of living nearer a town is fantastic. People from Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire joined the rebellion some of them were nonconformist Christians who had suffered persecution under Charles II. Its massive, much prized Castle was dismantled and only the parts too big to remove are now left. An ancient oak door leads from the street down the side of the Judge Jefferiesused the George Inn as a courtroom after the battle as part of theBloody Assizes. James II consolidated his power and reigned until 1688, when he was deposed by another nephew, William III of Orange, in the Glorious Revolution. We happily cater for groups large and small, and our private dining room The Dungeon is available for parties, events and meetings a truly unique space! He was a noble man who met his heath with calmness and dignity. A Gannett Company. Guests of the Plaine have a 30% discount on entry to Longleat House and Safari Park. [46] The Taunton Corporation was forced to witness the event at sword point outside the White Hart Inn, to encourage the support of the country gentry. Bath offers a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Our website. The Sedgemoor Inn has one of the most colourful pub signs in the country, Chevers Lane, Norton St Philip, where the fighting took place, used to be known as Bloody Lane', St Mary the Virgin, Westonzoyland, and behind it, the tower of St Mary the Virgin. Across the Outer Court to East Gatehouse - geograph.org.uk - 3402419.jpg 3,000 4,000; 2.67 MB It is said that it took multiple blows of the axe to sever his head. The George Inn: amazing - See 531 traveler reviews, 192 candid photos, and great deals for Norton St Philip, UK, at Tripadvisor. Mixing charm, privacy and comfort, The Plaine is named after the location of the 1685 Pitchfork Rebellion. Mixing charm, privacy and comfort, The Plaine is named after the location of the 1685 Pitchfork Rebellion. Just five years before, Monmouth has been on tour of the West Country in an attempt to make himself popular among the people. Monmouth was an illegitimate son of Charles II. Several historians have speculated that if Monmouth had marched as quickly as possible for Bristol at this point, when it was only protected by the Gloucestershire militia, he would probably have been able to take the city and the outcome of the rebellion might have been very different. With this rapid expansion in NSP I suspect that the once tight community will gradually draw apart far more. Monmouth was much loved and favoured by his father and despite his illegitimate status was given a place of great authority within English society. Despite begging for mercy and claims of conversion to Roman Catholicism, he was beheaded at Tower Hill by Jack Ketch on 15 July 1685. WebIn rolling Somerset countryside, Norton St Philip is a very pretty, charming little village, 9.6 km from Bath, Wells, Stonehenge and Cheddar Gorge. It is far more likely that they will need to travel to work to Bath, Trowbridge, Frome or even further afield. We have now moved into Bath. The more letters received the greater the impact. [14][15] Several areas of England were considered as potential locations for rebellion, including Cheshire and Lancashire along with the South West, as these were seen as having the highest number of opponents of the monarchy. It is no wonder that it was in Taunton that Monmouth was declared King for the first time. Monmouth was in Bridgwater on June 21 1685, where he took up residence in the castle. Republican ideas were still strong in the country and the accession to the throne of James, was feared by many to be a further drift towards a return to absolute Roman Catholic rule. Robert Abbot, William Cass and William Churchill, men of Somerton, joined the Duke of Monmouth to fight for God and liberty in June 1685 and did not return home. This sad, poignant inscription is on a plaque in the town of Somerton. [3], Monmouth had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the English Army by his father in 1672 and Captain general in 1678, enjoying some successes in the Netherlands in the Third Anglo-Dutch War, as commander of a British brigade in the French army. Tell your friends and neighbours about this website, encourage them to get involved. Monmouth was a popular figure among the common people. Contact Us, Copyright 2023 The Battlefields Trust - Registered Charity No:1017387 and Registered Company Limited by Guarantee No:2786730 (England and Wales)Privacy Policy - Website by mint, Battlefield Investigation Policy and Guidance, Battlefields Trust Health and Safety Policy Statement, Battlefields Trust Equal Opportunities Statement, Battlefields Trust Battlefields Hub Change Policy, Battlefield Planning Rules and Heritage Guidance, Project Reports, Updates and Lessons Learned. Another novel, of 1889, covering the events of the Rebellion was Sir Walter Besant's For Faith and Freedom. They even included amongst their number a young Daniel Defoe, later to become famous as an author. Monmouths growing force, albeit a poorly equipped pitchfork army, was now augmented by men from Somerset. Farleigh Hungerford Castle 290 Historic Sites Castles By rjwoods76 Kept beautifully by English Heritage and with a reasonable entry fee, it is dog friendly and the custodians are knowl 2. Now, while the army rested at Frome on the 28th, the news arrived of the failure of Argylls Scottish rebellion. An ancient oak door leads from the street down the side of the Monmouth was the illegitimate son of King Charles II, born to Lucy Walters in 1649 during Charles II's exile at the Hague. The first mention of Somerset is at Chard, where Monmouth denounced the King. [51] Meanwhile, the Royal Navy captured Monmouth's ships, cutting off any hope of an escape back to the continent. [35] It would take a few days to assemble the army and travel from London to the west country, therefore initial defence was left to local militias. Mason's 1896 novel The Courtship of Morrice Buckler. The garden in the rear of the pub overlooks a playground and recreation area (see below). WebAt Norton St Philip on the 27th Monmouth had failed to take the only real opportunity the campaign would offer of inflicting a serious defeat on the royal forces, which might have caused James s troops to begin to defect and many more This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. When his execution seemed inevitable Monmouth displayed his true nobility and went to the scaffold showing no signs of fear and met his end as every 'hero' should with calmness and dignity. WebThe Norton St. Philip Pitchfork Housing Rebellion | LATEST NEWS: On Friday 4th April the Parish Council discussed 2013/2052 East Site, Laverton Triangle, Norton St Philip BA2 7PE and voted to 'Leave the decision to the Planning Officer' The Norton St. Philip Pitchfork Housing Rebellion Amongst their number were w. orkers from the mills and workshops of Frome. Following a set back at Keynsham the Pitchfork army headed east, they were refused entry to Bath and headed for Norton St Phillip. With an Army now numbering nearly 5,000 soldiers Feversham attacks Monmouth on June 27, at Norton St Philip. The men of the West Country were on their own. We should take note of serious mistakes made decades ago when extended families were torn apart when it was decided to rehouse families and demolish the slums. View discounts Search stock photos by tags [34] To face Monmouth's rebels, John Churchill was given command of the regular foot in the King's army, and the honour of leading the campaign passed to the Huguenot Earl of Feversham. After Monmouths defeat seven of his followers were condemned to be hanged near here in the town.. Many of Monmouth's men had lost their shoes in the desperate attempt made to evade confrontation with the Kings army. [42] More recruits joined his disorganised force, which was now around 6,000, consisting mostly of nonconformists, artisans, and farm workers armed with farm tools (such as pitchforks). On the throne in 1685, following the death of Charles II, was James II, Charles brother, a Roman Catholic. It was built in 1397 by the Carthusian monks of nearby Hinton Priory to cater for merchants who came to their wool fairs. The current building has elements dating back from the 13th and 14th centuries, however it is likely there was a church on the site before the Norman Conquest. There were inconclusive skirmishes with a force of Life Guards commanded by Feversham. Monmouth decided not to attempt an attack on Bristol and his summons to Bath to surrender was refused. The failure of Parliamentary efforts to exclude James from the succession in 1681 resulted in the 1683 Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II and James; although Monmouth was then in exile in the Dutch Republic, he was identified as a co-conspirator. Web4912 x 3264 px | 41.6 x 27.6 cm | 16.4 x 10.9 inches | 300dpi Date taken: 3 June 2013 Location: Norton St Philip village, Somerset, England, UK Photographer: ICP More information: This image is Exclusive to Alamy Save up to 70% with our image packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand.