Who'd have thunk it?

-

Way back in the innocent days of the tail end of 2017, when if you entered a bank wearing a mask you'd have a lot of explaining to do, I started this blog.

It was meant as a store for all the snippets of information that were lying around on scraps of paper; something that would help me buy the correct version of Stirland Battlemire/Mud (I'm not sure, think it is mud, would have to check here first) when I visit the shops - even when I'd forgotten to take my shopping list with me. I didn't really expect many people to visit, or even read my inane ramblings.

As the little counter thingy has just rolled past a very big number (a quarter of a million!) I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has visited the blog; read my nonsense (unlikely); looked at the pretty pictures (more likely); followed @KeepPowder on Twitter; liked posts; retweeted; commented upon posts; used one of my Google maps; promoted the blog on their own blog or website; generously supported the blog via Buy Me A Coffee; or visited one of my affiliate links.

My highlight is still visiting Naseby battlefield and seeing someone walking around near Sulby Hedges with a print off of my instructions.

Wow. A quarter of a million views. Who'd have thunk it?

In the unlikely event that anyone is actually reading this: if you find a broken link, a changed postcode (ECWTravelogue), or any other errors, please let me know and I will amend.

If you enjoyed reading this, or any of the other posts, please consider supporting the blog. 
Thanks.


Comments

  1. Clubmen164525 April 2022 at 18:23

    Read. Congrats on reaching a quarter of a million. Read two blogs today of yours, quarter of a million and one now. First out the traps for reaching a half a mill..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Codsticker26 April 2022 at 16:23

    Congratulations, I've really enjoyed this blog, especially the ECW Travelogue entries; always wonderfully educational.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Radar27 April 2022 at 08:03

      Many thanks Codsticker. Always nice to hear that the travelogue goes down well

      Delete
  3. Dex McHenry27 April 2022 at 09:02

    Well done Mike. I think your success is testament to the quality of the content. Not just well researched but clear and easily laid out. I am sure, like others, that are pages I keep coming back to. Your colour palette of clothing colours, for example, is an essential reference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Radar27 April 2022 at 10:14

      Thanks Dex. Before I started the blog I asked for 'top tips' over on TWW. Best tip was to think long and hard about labels. Labels and their use is the key.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houses of Interest: Central Scotland

-
Image
After a brief sojourn in the Marches, it's back to Scotland for the  ECWtravelogue. Today's post looks at Central Scotland, and the (alleged) jewel in the crown of Scottish Castles - Stirling. Stirling Castle, from the Rose Garden The Royal palace of Stirling Castle , had fallen into "ruin and decay"  when Anne of Denmark chose to travel to Stirling for the birth of her first child in December 1593. Prompting James VI (later James VI/I)to order repairs on the palace.  in your face Wallace Memorial! The Royal Family would spend time here until the Union of the Crowns of 1603, when his father succeeded as King of England and the family left for London. the C astle's gatehouse battle scars formal gardens laid out for Charles & Henrietta Maria, the central 'earthwork' is the King's Knot Now effectively redundant, the Palace became a prison for persons of note. Restoration work continued, and preparation were made for the visit of Charles I, who stayed ...
Read more

Is Cake Allowed?

-
Image
Spurred into action by Radio 4's Food Programme trotting out the 'Cromwell banned Christmas' line, time for the annual public service clarification... It being that time of year, it is only right and proper to debunk the commonly held 'fact' that Cromwell banned Christmas.  The Puritans who held the majority in Parliament effectively banned Christmas as a) they believed it to be wasteful and a sin, and b) as an attempt to persuade the Scots Presbyterians that only by supporting Parliament could they achieve their goal of religious tolerance.  Whilst I do err with the belief that Christmas has become a festival of mass consumption and over commercialism, and has forgotten what the mid-winter festival is actually about, I wouldn't be up for banning it outright. Whilst happy to celebrate my Parliamentarian heritage and leaning (my great × lots uncle became General Treasurer of Lancashire for Parliament in 1643), if Parliament was against cake I may well have to be...
Read more

Colonel George Dodding’s Regiment of Horse

-
Image
The next five minute's of fame spotlight falls upon George Dodding's Regiment of Horse. This short lived regiment probably only numbered two troops, as Dodding only claimed pay as a Captain of Horse (he also claimed pay as a Colonel of Foot ).  What troops they had, appear to have been hastily assembled - Captain Cripps' troop was mustered two days before Marston Moor, and numbered just 50 men. The Regiment fought at Lathom House; Marston Moor; a skirmish at Ribble Bridge; a skirmish at Witten Cop; Ormskirk; and the siege of Greenhalgh Castle. If you enjoyed reading this, or any of the other posts, please consider  supporting  the blog.  Thanks .
Read more

Colonel Francis Russell's Regiment of Horse

-
Image
The latest batch of completed units who appeared very briefly on the blog, now get their full five minutes in the spotlight. Kicking us off is Colonel Francis Russell's Regiment of Horse. Originally raised as a troop for Essex's Regiment of Horse in 1643, they became a regiment in their own right in 1644. The troop fought, not surprisingly, in Essex's Army. When they became a Regiment in their own right they transferred to the Eastern Association before joining the New Model Army in 1645. As Russell's they fought at the siege of Newark; Cotes Bridge; Newark; the siege of York; Marston Moor: the siege of Banbury Castle; and Melton Mowbray. In April 1645, they entered the New Model Army as Colonel Charles Fleetwood’s Regiment of Horse (Fleetwood had taken command in March 1644). Russell, had been Governor of Lichfield, until he surrendered the town to Prince Rupert in 1643; he would then be appointed governor of the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. His daughter married Cr...
Read more

Parliamentarian Artillery (Again)

-
Image
Due to continual 'ah, but I need to represent this unit' type scenarios I came to the conclusion that I needed some more artillery for my armies. This coincided with the demise of Naismith-Roundway and I thought I wouldn't be able to get matching limbers.  Thankfully, I discovered KeepWargaming who have a dwindling stock of Naismith figures. I quickly purchased all of the limbers in their stock room.  (So expect similar artillery posts about the Covenanters and the Royalists.) So here are my final planned Parliamentarian figures: two minions, crews and limbers. Figures from PP, the gun is listed as light gun. I must confess that I wasn't totally happy with my cannons. Historically the metalwork was most probably black, but it just looked much too flat. So I decided to paint these differently. I decided to use Foundry blackened barrel. I have two shades of the paint, the lighter version being used for the wheel tyres (my thinking being that the paint would be more worn)...
Read more

Witchfinder

-
Image
The BBC have just released a new comedy series set in East Anglia and Essex in the 1640s. The story follows a failing witchfinder taking a prisoner to court in order to impress Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General.  An impressive cast, the series was written and produced by the team behind Alan Partridge.   More details here Publicity still ©BBC The witchcraft stuff is fairly accurate, apart from continuing the myth of witches being burned alive (they weren't, they were hung). The series looks wonderful, and is well written and researched: not exactly laugh out loud funny, but this is well worth a watch.   This is gentle smile to yourself humour rather than clutch your sides funny - it took until the very end of episode 4 for me to actually laugh out loud. Plus there is the bonus of hearing some Beirut over the closing credits on the first and last episodes. The first episode aired on Tuesday 8th March, 10pm BBC 2, all episodes are now available on BBC iPlay...
Read more

Royalist Artillery (Again)

-
Image
Regular readers (hello all seven of you) will be familiar with my tit-for-tat army expansions. So just as Parliament had an artillery expansion, so the King's Army requires one too. With the apparent demise of Naismith-Roundway, I thought I wouldn't be able to get hold of any of my preferred 'light' limbers. Thankfully, I discovered  KeepWargaming  (no relation) who have a dwindling stock of Naismith figures. I quickly purchased all of the limbers in their stock room.   So here are my final planned Royalist figures: two minions, crews and limbers. Figures from PP, the gun is listed as light gun. Regular readers will be aware that I wasn't totally happy with my cannons. Historically the metalwork was most probably black, but it just looked much too flat. So these have painted using my new paint recipe: instead of matt black I now use Foundry blackened barrel. I have two shades of the paint, the lighter version being used for the wheel tyres (my thinking being that th...
Read more

Colonel Charles Lucas' Regiment of Horse

-
Image
The last of the Royalist regiments of horse to take their moment in the spotlight. Sir Charles Lucas is probably most famous for his execution, or "The Loyall Sacrifice" as the Royalist newsbooks would describe it. Charles learned his soldiering, as so many did, in the Netherlands during the 1630s, before returning to fight in the Bishops' Wars. He would be knighted for his efforts in 1639 and be appointed governor of Richmond (the Yorkshire one). As the King was raising his banner, Sir Charles would raise his Regiment of Horse. The Regiment would have their  first taste of combat at a skirmish at Padbury; followed by First Newbury; Hunsborough Hall; Bradford; Boldon Hill; Chester-le-Street; and Marston Moor. Lucas would be wounded and taken prisoner. He would help to identify the eminent Royalist dead for honourable burial. It is said he wept at their numbers. The Regiment would continue fighting at Malpas; Dorchester; were possibly at the storming of Ledbury; skirmishe...
Read more

Marquis of Montrose’s Troop of Horse

-
Image
After the excitement of Captain Frances Dalyell's Troop, recruiting the Army Of Montrose comes down to earth with a bump. Sorry.   A very short-lived troop of horse that we don't really know much about. Raised by the Victorian's very own action hero, The Marquis of Montrose, to serve on Clavering’s brief campaign on the Scottish Border in early 1644. Reputedly boasting Scots gentry amongst their numbers. Their very brief fighting history being the taking of Dumfries; the siege of Morpeth; and a skirmish at Sunderland. And that, gentle reader, is pretty much all that is known about them; other than Blount described their cornet in  The Art of Making Devises. I've chosen to present them as lancers, as I originally intended just to have the Gordon Horse as Montrose's harquebusiers.  Mostly straight from the bag PP lancers. As I was being a cheapskate I rummaged in my spares box to find a trumpeter and a pair of mounted dragoon command figures - all three have had heads...
Read more

Sir John Gell’s Regiment of Horse

-
Image
Sir John Gell was a bit of a favourite here at Château KeepYourPowderDry due to the Derbyshire connection, and having oodles of his belongings survive in museums. However, a little bit of research into the man himself reveals that even by seventeenth century standards he could be described as somewhat misogynistic.  We've already met his Regiment of Foot (another wargamer favourite - possibly the only military unit that we can, hand on heart say we know what their coats and flags looked like); Gell also had a Regiment of Horse. Well, when I say a Regiment it only existed as a 'Regiment' on paper. In reality it was independent troops who came together for the rumble at Hopton Heath, and were nominally under Gell's command.  Obviously as Gell was a little busy commanding the army, actual command of the 'Regiment' fell to Major Thomas Saunders. Gell and Saunders didn't really get on too well. Some of their mildly acrimonious letters still exist. Whilst there is...
Read more