Archaeologists may have uncovered evidence of one of the earliest skirmishes of the English Civil War during excavations along the planned HS2 rail route, according to BBC News.
The discovery includes around 200 impact marks from pistol and musket shots on the outer walls of a gatehouse and over 40 spent shots found in what was once a moat.
The English Civil War began in August 1642, pitting the Royalists, loyal to King Charles I, against the Parliamentarians, known as the Roundheads. The first recorded battle of the conflict, the Battle of Curdworth Bridge, occurred in 1642 near Coleshill Manor.
Coleshill Manor, positioned near a bridge over the River Cole, would have been a critical location for the Roundheads to control. Experts suggest that the Roundheads likely passed close to the manor en route to the battle.
“The gatehouse’s façade was pockmarked with musket fire—possibly from target practice—but it also raises the intriguing possibility that this was evidence of the Civil War’s earliest skirmish,” said Professor Alice Roberts, historian and presenter. She expressed amazement at how much of the Coleshill gatehouse remains intact.
The manor’s history is steeped in political turbulence. After Simon de Montford, the former owner, was executed for treason in 1494, the estate was granted to Royalist Simon Digby. By the 17th century, tensions had escalated, setting the stage for civil conflict.
Stuart Pierson, an archaeologist from Wessex Archaeology, oversaw the HS2-related excavations and described the findings as “extraordinary.” His team has now completed excavating the gatehouse foundations. “These discoveries, absent from historical records, would have been lost to time without the skill and dedication of our team,” he said.
As HS2’s excavations at Coleshill conclude, Pierson reflected on the significant archaeological insights gained. Over 100 archaeological sites have been studied along the first phase of the HS2 route, which will connect London and Birmingham.
“Through our investigations, historians can piece together the complex details of past events,” said Helen Wass, HS2’s head of heritage.
The BBC series Digging for Britain will feature this “extraordinary” discovery on Sunday.
Source: BBC News / Wessex Archaeology
