Upnor Castle - The Dutch Raid on Medway
Upnor Castle was built in the 1550s on orders of Elizabeth I to protect the English fleet and the Chatham dockyards. It was never sacked and has been in uninterrupted naval use until the end of WWII when it was turned into a museum. It is an absolutely delightful place to visit with family.
In June 1667 Upnor Castle got tested during the Dutch raid on the Medway. Despite having been neglected for many years, it stood its ground and, although it could not prevent what was a crippling damage to the English fleet, it did stop the Dutch from getting through to the Chatham dockyards.
Пікірлер: 19
Upnor is lovely and well worth a visit
@MattMesserPics
Жыл бұрын
Indeed, I'm glad you like it - as i do!
Upnor Castle is a small delight. What has to be remembered about English and most Castles in Britain is that they were never manned by extensive garrisons. Most were family occupied keeping small areas under control an ensuring taxes were paid. A small group of men at arms was thus all that was needed. The Royal castles were not very different especially after Oliver Cromwell and the English were not at all keen to se a standing army so only a few regiments for Royal duties were kept after Charles II returned to the throne. A well made documentary focusing well on the relaxed atmosphere both then and today!
@MattMesserPics
11 ай бұрын
This kind of feedback is always much appreciated, thanks! It was my first video of this kind and I think it shows. Nevertheless, I catch myself going back and watching it every now and then to understand why it was so successful.
@MattMesserPics
11 ай бұрын
Oh, and to add to tat: Yes, it is indeed a delightful place, and so lovingly done up with all those panels, giving you a lot of information you'd struggle to find elsewhere.
@glynluff2595
11 ай бұрын
@@MattMesserPics Relaxation! People become too intense with their enthusiasms. As one becomes older one realises that in a few years nature will take her course and one of one’s greatest pleasures is to sit and watch and contemplate what has gone before. The most important question is always ‘Why’. The how always has a dozen books with people arguing many points but often these change in the course of a decade or two. The context of history if you wish to learn from it is ‘Why’ and I was taught that at a school assembly by an addressing Governor but it took me some years to learn how right he was. I think he would be quite pleased if he knew that over sixty years later I was publicising his remarks.
Beautifully done sir, congratulations on a most delightful piece!
@MattMesserPics
Жыл бұрын
It was my first in the series and clearly at the foot of a steep learning curve - so thank you all the more for that kind comment!
I believe a few low lying areas and islands approx 2-3m above sea level were captured around this time also. However these were abandoned after a few days due to altitude sickness amongst the Dutch forces.
@MattMesserPics
11 ай бұрын
🤣they were lacking the modern oxygen equipment back then...
Thank you. I had no idea that Chatham Dockyard had been successfully attacked by the Dutch. I must do some further reading on that.
A sea skirmish is not entirely accurate since it saw some of the largest battles of the age of sail with very heavy casualties
@MattMesserPics
Жыл бұрын
Apparently I was downplaying it then - I stand corrected! Thanks for engaging and taking the trouble to comment!
Its still got a lot of white wash!
Interesting that after all that humiliation, in 1689, a Dutch Stadtholder became our King :)
@MattMesserPics
Жыл бұрын
And so shortly after those events - I hadn't thought of that...
@5thMilitia
Жыл бұрын
The Dutch assembled the greatest fleet in European waters until D-Day to accomplish that
I wish your dialogue matched the visuals
@jennybertenshaw7694
11 ай бұрын
WHAT ? In what way ? Perfect snapshot video IMO