The Battle of Hinckley

 It is 382 years since the Battle of Hinckley, 4-5 March 1644.

About 350 Royalist cavalry, from Ashby de la Zouch, were combing this part of the county for supplies and had collected a huge herd of cattle, oxen and horses to take back to their base. They had also taken 26 men and clergy hostage. They had arrived late afternoon and planned to stay in Hinckley overnight, locking all their prisoners in St Mary’s Church.  Parliamentarian forces from Leicester decided to rescue the prisoners and free all the livestock.  The Parliamentarian force, about 170 cavalry, advanced from Barwell and along Derby Road and clashed with the Royalists in the Market Place.  The Royalists were scattered and galloped up Castle Street, out of town, followed by the Parliamentarians.  The Royalists reformed in the fields where the Parliamentarians attacked them, shooting at them first with their Dragoons (mounted infantry). The Royalists turned and fled.  The prisoners were then freed from the church and the livestock returned to their original owners.  13 Royalists were killed and 48 taken prisoner. We are told that no Parliamentarians were killed and only four wounded so they must have totally surprised the Royalists.

I decided to make this a bit more visual as it was for Facebook.

The Parliamentarians arrive from Barwell, the Dragoons dismount and advance.

The loot and the prisoners were held at St Mary’s Church.

They battle in the Market Place.

The scattered Royalists are chased up Castle Street.

But reform in the fields where they are attacked again, the Dragoons shooting at them first. 

Hastings 960 Project

 This year is the 960th anniversary of the battle of Hastings.

Peter's Paper Soldiers have decided to create a 1:1 scale model of the battle for a wargames show in October, very near to the date of the battle. I, along with many others from all round the world, volunteered to help create this army. I was give the task of producing a single stand of 330 Saxon Fyrd.

It was quite a task but I soon got into the swing of it. I also had to make a base for them to stand on and a box for them to be posted off in.

The scale of the figures is 18mm.

I chose to make mine the local Sparkenhoe Fyrd of Mercia.

Printing them out.

Cutting them out.

The first rank on their base board.

The box for sending them off.

The completed unit.

Close up of the command figures.

Regency Leamington Spa.

The Regent Hotel Royal Leamington Spa.

We stayed here after Liam's 30th. It has a few Regency and Napoleonic contections.

When it was built in 1818 it was the largest hotel in Europe.

On the list of famous visitors are three Napoleonic Generals. Wellington, Lord Hill and Lord Uxbridge.

Years later, Napoleon III stayed here as well!

The grand looking entrance.

The main staircase.

Royal and Prince of Wales crests.

Queen Victoria and Napoleon III, who's son was in the British army and was killed in the Zulu wars.

The Duke of Wellington.

A full list of famous visitors.