Battles in the landscape with Stewart Ainsworth

Would you say that the manor was in a good position in the landscape to defend?
'Only partly. It took advantage of a wet valley to the east, which did give a natural defence on this side, but was overlooked at the north and was surrounded by the village to the west and south. This is why the Royalists razed the village to create a killing zone and strengthened the north side with the big earthwork. The main reason for choice of defence was its position in controlling the existing road network and existing medieval defences.'

Were the defensive earthworks at High Ercall typical of Civil War fortification?
'Yes. There are examples of other medieval sites reused in the Civil War, and the size of the earthworks is typical of the defences needed against muskets and cannons. The best examples surviving in this country are at Newark upon Trent.'

How relevant was the church to the defence of the manor?
'Its main strength was as a lookout tower.'

After beating off two sieges why did the Royalists withdraw the perimeter of their fortification closer to the manor and give up the church?
'I don't think they gave it up, not without a fight. The musket ball scars against the base of the church tower indicate it was assaulted from along the outer defence and taken by the attackers. Ball scars high on the house itself suggest that the attackers then used the newly acquired church tower to fire down into the inner defences of the manor.'