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One of most important sieges in English history. The castle was held by Hubert de Burgh against Louis of France who had invaded England at the behest of the rebel barons. The failure to capture such a strategically important castle was a major set-back for Louis. The siege featured many aspects of siege warfare: attempted bribery; siege engines; mining. The French captured Dover’s barbican and undermined the main gate (subsequently rebuilt and blocked) but the defenders built a barricade and drove back the French. Evidence of mining tunnels can still be seen.

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David Davis

David Davis

Member of Parliament

Introduction – Runnymede and all that. Winston Churchill described the Magna Carta as “the foundation of principles and systems of government of which neither King John or his nobles dreamed”. Now in Politics we’re used to the law of unintended consequences...

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