Defending Gloucestershire and Bristol by Mike Osborne - 9781781558898

Defending Gloucestershire and BristolAuthor(s): Mike Osborne\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Fonthill Media Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Fonthill Media Ltd\nISBN-13: 9781781558898, 978-1781558898\nSynopsis\nGloucestershire's strategic location straddling the Severn is reinforced by Bristol's importance as a port. The Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds are densely populated by prehistoric hillforts and Gloucester, Cirencester and Winchcombe were important throughout the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The Normans built substantial castles at Bristol, Gloucester and Berkeley, scene of Edward II's murder, with many more of earth and timber. Many figured in the conflicts between rival factions culminating in the Battle of Tewkesbury. In the Civil War, Bristol underwent two sieges and Gloucester another and one of the last battles, at Stow, followed continuous skirmishing. The next centuries saw volunteer forces established, formalised by the State by the end of Victoria's reign, to counter .