Roundhead or Royalist?

 Sue and I have been away for a week's R&R in Cornwall. We've been staying in the small coastal village of Downderry in a rather fine appartment with a splendid view ~

We have generally been chillaxing locally mostly, but popping out and about if we felt like it. I don't know about other wargamers, but it seems to me that aspects of the hobby pop up even when you are not consciously looking for any. Treating ourselves to Coffee & Cake in Liskeard's Stuart House we found an exhibition of the Civil War's impact on the town and C17th life in general ~

Lots of interesting information panels around explaining both the exhibits and the course of the war in the area, especially focusing on Roundway Down and it's aftermath.

And all for free! The final three from the exhibition focusing on the likely events in the life of the woman of the house and childbirth. Progress is a good thing it leaves you thinking! We also took advantage of our National Trust membership to visit Anthony House, thankfully mostly avoiding the earnest but irritating intrusions of the 'volunteer' room guides, who I suspect are mostly retired infant school teachers! The house post dates the ECW but is linked to the Carew family, with members declaring for both sides it seems ~

The approach to the house, not landscaped by Capability Brown!

The Hall, dominated by its fireplace and portrait of Charles I.

Sir John Carew(?) Who raised the Militia for Parliament. Royalist family members cut his picture out of the frame and consigned it to the cellars. When Parliament later executed him for treason the picture was roughly stitched back in the frame!

What appears to be a period silk standard of the family's regiment of Foot. If it is genuine then it's in mighty fine condition. It's behind a protective perspex screen so it's safe from grubby fingered wargamers!

We were able to call in at Restormel Castle, or what remains of it. It briefly saw action in the Civil War, the only time in its entire history it seems. 

It seems it wasn't even worth slighting at the war's conclusion! Sad fate for any castle to be deemed useless!