Dr Charlotte Young will be giving an introduction to local historians of underused Civil War-era sources for research, followed by Tim Hasker sharing a local study on responses in Northampton to the regicide of King Charles I. 

Dr Charlotte Young: The conflicts of the mid-seventeenth century prompted the creation of an entirely new system of bureaucracy across England, which in turn produced a wide range of new documentary records. This paper will explore how these records, ranging from land surveys to inventories and petitions, can be utilised in the study of local history and reveal how the events of the 1640s and 1650s impacted everyday life. Many of these record sets are underexplored and underutilised, and this session will aim to introduce you to some new sources for your research.

Tim Hasker: In January 1649, the English took the unprecedented decision to put the King on trial for treason, an act that would see the end of the Monarchy. However, this decision was reached by only 59 commissioners and by no means reflected a national consensus. This talk examines reactions to the trial and execution in Northampton. During the civil war Northampton was steadfast in its support for the Parliamentary cause, but the responses to the king’s execution highlight a divided community representative of Parliamentarians across the country. This study shows that the town’s rationale for supporting Parliament was complex. Members of the parliamentarian community reacted in different ways to the trial and execution, and by looking at local and individual reactions we can better understand the Northamptonshire and the national response.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the talks. 

This webinar is free to BALH members.

Special offer: Is your local history society a BALH member? Enter your society's discount code for the reduced rate of £3.

The talks start at 7:00 prompt, with the webinar open from 6:50pm.