Sheila started us off with a succinct introduction to sources for studying medieval Kent and Cade’s rebellion which contained an excellent reading list to last us through to the end of lockdown! Medieval research can seem daunting, not least locating and understanding the source material which ranges from pardon lists to political songs. Sheila gave us a great deal of advice and got us thinking about how the late medieval period was one full of fascination.

From here the Hour dived into our local study by Gill on Cade’s Rebellion, the Battle of Solefields and Knole House. Combining rich detail we were taken through the nature of the Rebellion, the key actors including James Fiennes, Lord Saye and Sele that ‘dastard of renown’ and Knole House which had been owned by him and then Archbishop Bourchier. Through an excellent selection of quotes, images, maps and plans as well as a mixture of narrative and closer studies of individuals and the house we got a real sense of being transported there. In our mind’s eye all 200 of us marched to London and struck our swords on the London Stone. The subsequent story of Knole told from someone with such knowledge transported us around this great house. We will all be eager to visit as soon as we can.

Bringing ourselves back to the 21st century we had questions fly in from our listeners on topics as diverse as the economic state of Kent after the Black Death to queries about local road names associated with Cade. We couldn’t answer all the questions that were sent in during the session but we hope our speakers have inspired you all to learn about Cade’s rebellion and Knole. A great question came in about Sevenoaks and the Rye Road which featured in the Kent Rising of 1643 when Royalist 'rebels' initially formed at Sevenoaks before falling back to Tonbridge as the London Trained Bands approached and a battle was fought. The road and the locality were clearly significant long after Cade. There was an interesting question over whether Knole was a look-out and a place where troops could be garrisoned. We do know that the then owner of Knole was Edward Sackville, 4th earl of Dorset whose suspected Royalism brought the house into the war by being sequestered by Parliament.

This question brings us nicely to our next Local History Hour on March 25th. The English Civil War in the Localities will have Dr Charlotte Young introducing underused Civil War-era sources for your local history research with Tim Hasker sharing an exciting local study on responses in Northampton to the regicide of King Charles I. 

While we continue to be apart, we are glad at BALH to be bringing local history into your homes. We warmly encourage you all to join in March. Come armed with cake and a cup of tea (or something stronger!) while we take you from one rebellion to the greatest rebellion of them all.

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