Trove of lost artefacts from Civil War’s LAST battle where King Charles fled England finally found – including fired musket balls ‘shattered by impact’
RARE lost artefacts from the final battle of the English Civil War have been unearthed during Worcestershire roadworks.
Experts have discovered musket pellets, sword hilts and more from the bloody Battle of Worcester – where nearly 4,000 were killed during a fight to overthrown Britain's monarchy.
The site of the Battle of Worcester is no secret, but a new dig has produced the first physical evidence from the 17th century conflict.
Archaeologists found musket balls, horse harness fittings and belt buckles buried deep at the bottom of a river valley.
The dig was made possible due to ongoing roadworks at the Worcester Southern Link Road site.
It lies close to the Powick Church, which has a tower still littered with shot damage from the battle.
And intense fighting was also reported on the nearby Powick Bridge.
Historians unearthed a total of 98 finds, which had been buried by flood deposits that had collected over the centuries since the battle.
"We are just outside the registered battlefield area but this is still a nationally significant site," said Worcestershire County Council lead archaeologist Richard Bradley, who called the discovery "fantastic".
"The construction work has given us the opportunity to investigate the floodplain across which thousands of infantry and cavalry engaged, and to get down to the level where artefacts were deposited.";
"Many of the lead musket and pistol balls show evidence of firing or impact and these tangible signs of the conflict offer a poignant connection to the soldiers who fought and died here."
The Battle of Worcester took place on September 3, 1651 at Worcester, England.
It was the final battle of the English Civil War, and head a death toll of around 3,700.
Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian New Model Army with its 28,000 troops defeated King Charles II's 16,000 Royalists.
It was a last-ditch effort by King Charles to regain the throne lost after his dad – King Charles I – was executed.
He was aided by Scottish allies, who made up the vast majority of his army.
But King Charles was ultimately defeated, with 10,000 of his men forced into exile – and he himself ultimately exiled from England.
English Civil War – the key facts
Here's what you need to know...
- The English Civil War was a major and bloody conflict in the 17th century
- It lasted between 1642 and 1651, and involved a number of battles and political conflicts
- Fighting each other were the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) and the Royalists (Cavaliers)
- The conflict was over how England was governed and by whom – Parliament or monarchy
- Around 50,000 Cavaliers and 34,000 Roundheads
- There were also 127,000 non-combat deaths, including around 40,000 civilians
- The war ended with the trial and execution of King Charles I, and the exile of his son Charles II
- England's monarchy was also replaced with a Commonwealth of England, then a Protectorate under the rule of Oliver Cromwell
- The wars established that an English monarch cannot govern England with the consent of Parliament
- The English monarchy took place in 1660, when King Charles II returned to England
It was seen as the end to a long and bloody conflict that abolished the monarchy into the UK, and changed English governance forever.
New rules were put in place to ensure that an English monarch couldn't rule England with Parliament's consent.
The monarchy was restored in 1660, with the return of King Charles II to England.
"How exciting that 368 years after the Battle of Worcester these artefacts should be discovered," said Richard Shaw, chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society.
"We are sure that there was fighting at this location on 3rd September 1651.
"Parliamentary forces had crossed the river at Upton-upon-Severn and were driving the Royalists back towards Worcester. The discoveries really bring the events of that day to life."
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And "Britain’s Atlantis" has been found off the Norfolk coast after being "swallowed by the sea" 8,000 years ago.
What's your favourite archaeological discovery of all time? Let us know in the comments!
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