Charles II in Exile: Brugge
And now, to steal a phrase from Monty Python, for something completely different... Portrait of Henry, Duke of Gloucester at Royal Guild of Saint-Sebastian It is spring 1656, Charles II along with his brothers Henry, Duke of Gloucester and James, Duke of York arrive in Brugge. Charles had fled England in 1651 after his defeat at Worcester, he originally lived near Paris, then moved to Cologne, before ending up in Brugge. The time that Charles spent in Brugge recently hit the headlines when Belgian fishermen tested the right to fish in British waters post Brexit: Charles had granted 50 Flemish fishermen from Brugge “eternal rights” to English fishing waters, as a way of thanking the city for its hospitality. the time keeping apparatus on top of Huis Bouchoute Charles was originally housed in Huis Bouchoute , which is now more famous for its role in the standardisation of Belgian timekeeping. Grand Hotel Casselbergh is more widely known as Charles's residence whilst in Brugge. This u...