Our archives consist of a variety of sources, from parish and borough records to family and estate records. Many of these sources contain documents dating back centuries, with a selection going back to the English Civil War. Some families, such as the Bankes Family of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy actively participated in the Civil War, and their records reflect as such.
Take a look at the list below of documents relating to the Civil War. Contact us if you would like to find out more information or take a look at the original documents.
| Reference number | Date | Description of documents |
|---|---|---|
|
D.1863/1 |
25 November 1648 | Pardon issued by order of Parliament to Richard Newman of Fifehead, Magdalen for his part in the late rebellion [English Civil War]. |
| D1/OU | Circa 1643 | Letter written on behalf of King Charles requesting financial assistance to help fight in the Civil War. |
| D-BKL/H/G/58 | June 1762 | Notes and thoughts on military history and the circumstances of the Civil War. |
| D-BKL/H/J/5/40 | 1648 | Map and diary of the siege of Colchester (Royalist) by Lord Fairfax (Parliamentarian) until 22 Aug 1648. Includes details of the forces engaged in the siege. |
| D-FIL/Z2 | [no date] | Description of the first siege of Corfe Castle in 1643, derived from Mercurius Rusticus (a Royalist precursor to the modern newspaper). |
| S-235/A/2/5/2 | 1642 | Statement issued by Walter Ridout protesting against the expulsion order by the Governors of Sherborne School, because of his support for the Roundheads (Parliamentarians). |
| D-PLR/X/4 | 1625/6-1638 | Letter of instructions concerning the collection of weapons for Corfe Castle and Purbeck. |
| D-MAY/Box/2 | Circa 1850 | Reprint of 'Happy News from Sherborn 1642', a civil war tract talking about events of the time. |
| D-BKL/H/J/5/12 | 1810s | William John Bankes' detailed notes on important historical figures in British History of the 17th Century, including notes about the Scottish rebellion, parliament in the 1600s, and the Civil War. |
| DC-BTB/N/15 | 1638-1639 | Writ for the levy of ship-money on the people of Bridport, one of the contributors to the start of the Civil War. |
This is by no means an exhaustive list of documents relating to the topic. If this has piqued your interest why not search our catalogue for more documents or contact us to arrange a visit with your class to view the documents themselves (where possible).
Alternatively, take a look at our new learning resources on the Bankes family, including Civil War material and activities from the family's time at Corfe Castle.