General Chat

Did anyone else watch it? What did you think?

I was very interested in knowing more about the Civil War in the 1640s and its aftermath (Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth), as there is a large gap in my family history around that time. From what was shown in the programme, that's hardly surprising. So many died needlessly, not just in battle, but due to unrelenting cruelty during and after the conflict. Very thought-provoking, and there's more to come. What did you think? CB >|<

I watched some of it camberwell....very interesting.....I am so glad I did'nt live in those times ....there a a few good websites if you google english civil war.....I love history...

Jean, I'm glad someone else did watch it after all - thought I might have been the only one for a while! I've read a good bit about those times - Antonia Fraser's 'Cromwell - Our Chief of Men' was very informative, but seeing the Civil War portrayed from the viewpoint of a contemporary 'ordinary' person made it 'come alive' and helped me see how people's lives would have been affected. It must have been much the same as modern conflicts, such as Kosovo. CB >|<

Hi - Yes I watched most of it, in fact I usually watch any historical 'stuff'! However I didn't like the 'format' of the programme although the content was interesting, particularly the letters and journals of people from the time. I'm not a fan of 'arty-farty' filming methods - the washed-out screen (which made me think the TV needed cleaning!), stills superimposed on live action, etc. I have a Civil War docu on VHS which is a few years old but good nonetheless - fascinating period of our history!

CB yes I agreeit did give a very good insite in to the times did'nt it,ialways watch programs like that....pity more people don't watch

Hello CB put a post on last night asking where you were .Gwynne replied that you were suffering a cold and doing research. Hope you caught up with a few rellies(I'mlearning) on the Civil War programme. Hope you are feeling alot better. Rupert.

Sheila, Yes, I agree with you about the format of the film. I also think they overdid the gory bits, the child hiding in the laundry tub, and the screaming, but maybe that made it more realistic. I felt sorry for the poor, old farmer who had all his horses taken from him, then even his shovel, so he couldn't dig his land. We've found a record of one of my husband's ancestors whose land and property were confiscated at the time, due to his being a Royalist. CB >|<

Hello Rupert! Yes, thank you, I'm feeling a lot better today. I've just found a cousin I've never heard of before, and his wife has been doing family history research for the past 20 years. She is a mine of useful info for me, with my 7 months'-worth! We've compared notes and I'm in the process of updating my 70 pages of research notes to send to her, so she can check them against her own. She's never joined GR, so I was 'selling it' to her! LoL CB >|< X

CB >i< I did'nt realise it was on, that will teach me to look at the TV Times a bit more throughly in future. Yes I like learning about our history too. Did you tape it by any chance? Jo.

Jo, Yes, I did tape the programme, and you're welcome to borrow the tape. The programme was just over 2 hours long, so you'll need to set aside plenty of time! LoL CB >|<

Saw the first half hour and had to tape the rest - looked interesting a bit different from others on the Civil War. It is not surprising that a lot of us get stuck on research around this period bearing in mind that Cromwells lot ransacked the churches and records were destroyed. I am back this far to discover that my husband's direct anscestor was on the side of Cromwell and in spite of being a vicar was urging on the troops to tear down the statues etc but for 12 years cannot get back any further. Ann

Hi CB, I watched most of it and taped the rest. I'm fascinated by the civil war because i have some ancestor who I know were directly involved. My ancestor Edward was a royalist and was rewarded after the restoration - from Beccles Quarter sessions - 'ffor as much as it appears to this court that Edward Capp of Kessingland in this County hath been very serviceably? in the restoration of King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory August 18th now grown very impotent and infirm and desiring some relief. This court doth order hereafter of Marriners and Maimed Souls ????? of this division to pay the said Edward Capps the yearly pension of forty shillings by Quarterly payments towards his subsistence the ffirst payment to be made this sessions and to be continued till this court shall order the contrary together with these shillings for this order.' Another line were on Cromwell's side. They were baptised in one of the first Independent Churches in East Anglia. Cromwell 'took' Lowestoft with very little resistance. I'm not sure how I feel about the style of the programme but it was fascinating. Gwynne

Fascinating, Gwynne. It's always such a pity that historical records are lost during conflict. I curse Herr Hitler for the loss of all my family's records and heirlooms (nothing valuable in money terms, but of great value sentimentally). If last night's programme makers were correct in their portrayal, an awful lot of gratuitous violence and destruction during the Civil War ultimately achieved very little. We started with a monarchy, we restored it, and we still have it today. CB >|<