The battlefields of Edgehill, Newbury, and Marston Moor are superlatives with the middle of the 17th-century conflict known as the English Civil War, and while their importance to the conflict is undeniable, they detract from the power struggle that occurred between the Royalists and Parliamentarians in the towns and cities throughout the land. This power struggle culminated in the construction of siege batteries and fortifications. Focusing on the Severn Valley region of England, this book examines, through archaeological, topographic, cartographic and historical research, the sieges of Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Bridgnorth, and Shrewsbury, demonstrating how siege techniques and this style of warfare impacted on the outcome of the conflict that set brother against brother and father against son.

"...an important addition to the study of the English Civil War."

"…with his experience as a landscape archaeologist and his eye for the local geography, the author brings a valuable new perspective to the study of these sieges. His local knowledge extends the book’s appeal to those who are looking for a guide to the fortifications in their hometowns."