Ghostly sightings, battlefield apparitions and centuries-old supernatural legends linked to Worcester’s Civil War past will be explored in a special talk marking the anniversary of the Battle of Worcester.
University of Worcester Professor of Early Modern History, Darren Oldridge, will examine reports of omens, visions and other supernatural experiences linked to the English Civil Wars, and explore why they flourished during the conflict.
The talk ‘Ghosts and Apparitions in the English Civil War’ on Saturday, October 24 (2pm) is part of a programme at The Commandery to mark the 375th anniversary of the Battle of Worcester in 1651, which ended nine years of war between supporters of parliament and the King.
The talk will reveal how stories of ghosts, appearances of the Devil and strange phenomena in the sky were reported by people on both sides of the Civil War.
“The Church of England had tried to stamp out some of these beliefs, particularly those involving ghosts, so what happens in the Civil War is really interesting as there is an explosion of reports about supernatural activities of all kinds,” said Professor Oldridge.
“It was a terrible war and a great many people were killed,” he added. “Death was very close, so it’s not surprising to me that in those circumstances there were so many reports of ghosts. And because of the uncertainty, insecurity and danger of war, people were looking for signs of supernatural warnings of what was to come.”
One dramatic story concerns the Battle of Edge Hill in 1642, when witnesses reported seeing armies fighting in the sky above the battlefield days after the conflict had ended.
Professor Oldridge said accounts such as these appear in contemporary pamphlets and personal diaries from across society, with people interpreting them in various ways.
“The Civil War was fought at a time when almost everybody believed in the Devil and in spirits, and people were deeply religious,” he added. “Many historians would say that the war was fought over religion. And yet at the same time, it was fought with gunpowder so it was a modern war, and that makes it interesting.”
This is one of two talks that Professor Oldridge is giving connected to the anniversary of the battle at Worcester. Another, titled ‘The Devil in Cromwell’s England’, is part of the Cromwell Association’s Study Day on Saturday, October 10 at the Old Palace, in Worcester. In this talk he will explore how the Devil loomed large in the English Civil War in various ways, such as the way both royalists and parliamentarians characterised their opponents as the Devil’s agents.
Professor Oldridge will also be giving a public talk entitled ‘Talk of the Devil’ on Saturday, October 17 in the Old Baptist Chapel, in Tewkesbury. Visit https://www.johnmooremuseum.org/events/the-devil/.
Tickets for ‘Ghosts and Apparitions in the English Civil War’ cost £10. To book your place visit https://www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk/events/talk-ghosts-and-apparitions-in-the-english-civil-war-with-professor-darren-oldridge/
For more information or to book a ticket to the Cromwell Association Study Day visit the Cromwell Association website: https://www.olivercromwell.org/wordpress/diary-dates/.