Lines of Communication (London)

A model of the fortifications built around London during the English Civil War viewed from the east.[1]

The Lines of Communication were English Civil War fortifications commissioned by Parliament (see the Order for intrenching and fortifying the City of London, 7 March 1643)[2] and built around London between 1642 and 1643 to protect the capital from attack by the Royalist armies of Charles I.[3][4] They acted to supplement the inner defences provided by Roman and medieval wall in the City of London which underwent repairs and maintenance at this time.


In 1642 some basic fortifications were built, in the form of street barricades and small earthworks. In 1643 a major construction effort was made, to provide a comprehensive ring of fortifications around the city. Much of the work was done by volunteer labour, organized by the trained bands and the livery companies. Up to 20,000 people are thought to be involved, and the works were completed in under two months.[5] The fortifications failed their only test when the New Model Army entered London in 1647,[6] and they were levelled by Parliament the same year.[7]

  1. ^ The model/sculpture by craft:pegg, located in Bishops Square, Spitalfields Market
  2. ^ 7 March 1642/3 Julian calendar (see New Style)
  3. ^ Spitalfields Public Art 2007-08, http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/, Retrieved 2008-11-23 See the section "1. Craft:Pegg"
  4. ^ David Flintham Whitechapel Mount and the London Hospital, THHOL, 1999. Retrieved 2008-11-23
  5. ^ David Flintham. Civil War fortifications of London, Fortified Places Archived 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine, 13 July 2009
  6. ^ Harrington, Peter (2003). English Civil War Fortifications 1642-51, Volume 9 of Fortress, 9, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-604-6. p. 57
  7. ^ David Flintham. Civil War fortifications of London, Fortified Places Archived 2008-04-09 at the Wayback Machine, 18 August 2008. Citing:
    • The English Civil War - A Contemporary Account, Caliban Books, London, (1996), Vol. 3, p. 33.
    • Whitelocke, in Victor T. C. Smith The Defences of London During the English Civil War, Fort, Volume 25, Fortress Study Group, (1997). p. 79.