US help for city Civil War plans

From the archive, first published Wednesday 30th Aug 2006.

AN American historian is keen to get involved in a Worcester project to commemorate the city's part in the English Civil War.

The Battle Of Worcester 1651 Project aims to increase the profile of the city's role in the conflict by creating a battlefield trail and, eventually, a battlefield centre and memorial.

Diane Rapaport, a former lawyer from Massachusetts, has researched the fate of Scottish prisoners from the Battle of Worcester who were transported to America and sold to English colonists.

"This is a little-known story, a nearly forgotten chapter of our history and my research is generating interest here in the US," she said, in an e-mail to the Worcester News.

She is currently preparing a book under the working title Scots for Sale and is in touch with some of the American descendants of the Scottish prisoners.

She believes many of them would be interested in the Battle Of Worcester Project and has written to Dilip Sarkar, of the Battle Of Worcester Society, saying she would be pleased to help.

Mr Sarkar said he was delighted to have Ms Rapaport on board, together with former Droitwich man Steve Maggs, now living in Scotland, who is preparing a Battle Of Worcester Who's Who.

"We always knew there was this level of interest in America and Diane has tapped into that side of it," he said.

Organisers hope to seek Lottery funding for the Battle Of Worcester Project, including an archaeological survey, with improved signs, access and artistic interpretation at key sites. There will be a open day at the Guildhall on Saturday, September 16, from 10am to 4pm, when people can find out more.

Worcester Re-enactors, dressed in 17th century costume, will be there to add colour to the occasion and sculptor Kenneth Potts will display his proposals for sculpted relief panels depicting scenes from the battle.

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