Henrietta Maria
(1609-1669)

King's Norton Green The green has been a public centre of King's Norton for at least 500 years. During most of that time the Manor of King's Norton, extending from Rednal to Balsall Heath, was the property of the King. The 15th century "Saracen's Head" (next to the churchyard) was once the house of the bailiff, who was responsible for administrating justice in the Manor. During the Civil War Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, spent a night at the house on her journey from Yorkshire to gather troops and rejoin the King at Oxford. The Green has been used for centuries for meetings, fairs and markets, and although the area of King's Norton Parish is much smaller than in the Middle Ages the number of people coming through to The Green is vastly greater so please treat it with care.

King's Norton Green, Birmingham, United Kingdom where they spent a night at the house

Near this spot on 2nd July 1643, during the English Civil War, Colonel Thomas Tyldesley led a desperate cavalry charge over the famous 36-arched Trent Bridge to storm the town of Burton. The event being personally witnessed by Queen Henrietta Maria. For this exploit of signal valour, Thomas Tyldesley was subsequently knighted by King Charles I.

Burton Bridge, Burton-upon-Trent, United Kingdom where they was (1643)

16th Cent. houses. Tradition states that Henrietta, Queen of Charles I, resided here when she visited Newark early in the Civil War period.

Kirk Gate, Newark-on-Trent, United Kingdom where they stayed