A model the fortifications built around London during the English Civil War viewed from the east.

The Lines of Communication were English Civil War fortifications commissioned by Parliament and built around London between 1642 and 1643 to protect the capital from attack by the Royalist armies of Charles I. ^{[1] [2]} In 1642 some basic fortifications were built, in the form of street barricades and small earthworks. In 1643 a major construction effort was made, to provide a comprehensive ring of fortifications around the city. Much of the work was done by volunteer labour, organized by the Trained bands and the livery companies. Up to 20,000 people are thought to be involved, and the works were completed in under two months. ^[3]

The fortifications were levelled by Parliament in 1647, ^[4] and are the subject of a public art piece by artist group craft:pegg which is located in Bishops Square, Spitalfields Market.^[1]

[edit] The Works

The works consisted of a rampart and ditch surrounding the city, at a distance of one and a half to two miles from the city centre, reinforced with a series of 23 bastions of various types.

These were ^[5]:

Anti-clockwise from the East

• 1) Bulwark, & half.bulwark : Gravel Lane
• 2) Hornwork : Whitechapel Road
• 3) Redoubt & 2 flanks : Brick Lane
• 4) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Hackney Road
• 5) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Kingsland Road

North

• 6) battery & Breastwork : Mountmill
• 7 Battery & Breastwork : St John Street

(Outliers)

• 8) Small Redoubt : Islington Road
• 9) Large Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : Upper Pond, New River

North

• 10) Battery & Breastwork : Blackmary Hill
• 11) 2 Battery & Breastwork : Bedford House
• 12) Redoubt & 2 flanks : St Giles Road
• 13) Small Fort : Tiburn Road
• 14) Large Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : Wardour Street
• 15) Small Bulwark : Olivers Mount
• 16) Large fort & 4 Bulwarks : Hyde Park Corner

West

• 17) Small Bulwark & Battery : Constitution Hill
• 18) Court of Guards : Chelsea Turnpike
• 19) Battery & Breastwork : Tothill Field

South of the Thames

• 20) Quadrant Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : Vauxhall
• 21) Fort & 4 half Bulwarks : St George Field
• 22) Large Fort & 4 Bulwarks : Blackman Street
• 23) Redoubt & 4 flanks : Kent Street

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lines of Communication (London)

• Harrington, Peter. Fortress #9: English Civil War Fortifications 1642–1651, Osprey Publishing (UK), 2003, ISBN 1841766046 9781841766041
• Papillon, David. "A Practical Abstract of the Arts of Fortification and Assailing", 1646
• Smith, Victor T.C. The defences of London during the English Civil War, Fort Volume 25, Fortress Study Group, 1997

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