Colchester has always played a vital part in English history. It can be seen in the monuments, castles and even the seemingly insignificant names of road signs. They are open for the observation of all yet often overlooked and ignored. The history is rich and influential, the Siege of Colchester in the summer of 1648 played a vital part in the second civil war and parliamentarian victory. 

 

The siege lasted an extraordinary 73 days and ended drastically with a royalist surrender. This was soon followed by the execution of the loosing commanders. Their deaths were cemented in history with a monument in the heart of Colchester Park, one that many walk past day after day, ignorant of its significance. 

 

King Charles’ army was forced behind the town’s walls by Thomas Fairfax’s army, outnumbered by his forces. The two forces initially met on Maldon Road where it seemed as if the Royalist possessed the upper hand – well protected behind the bushes aligning the road – yet were eventually overwhelmed by the parliamentarian Calvary. 

 

Citizens of the town were unhappy with the forced occupation of their buildings, most individuals being staunch supporters of the parliamentarian cause throughout the First Civil War. This discontent was only further festered as their provisions were quickly seized. By August, a lack of provisions meant that cats, dogs and horses were a very popular choice of food. Whilst many died of hunger during or after the siege.

 

This effect is of even greater consideration when knowing that Colchester was one of the richest Towns in England before this event.

 

The Old Siege House was a victim of the fighting and its history is preserved even today with its original structure. Janice Murray, an old patron of the pub, describes it as “beautiful and charming with an intriguing ambience” it even still holds some of the musket ball marks – circled in red - it garnered in the war. 

 

One most intriguing (supposed) result of the siege was that of the well-known nursery rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty’. It is said to have come from the nickname of one of the Royalist cannons that was destroyed following a Parliamentarian bombardment. However, other accounts have attributed the nursery rhyme to a Royalist sniper that was shot down by the parliamentarians.