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Roaring Meg (cannon)
Encyclopedia
Roaring Meg was the name of several powerful cannons used in the 17th century. It is not to be confused with Mons Meg
, a medieval cannon preserved at Edinburgh Castle.
cast in 1646 for the siege of Goodrich Castle
. With a 15.5 inch barrel diameter Roaring Meg was the largest mortar of the war. She was instrumental in the capture of Goodrich Castle
in 1646 by Sir Thomas Fairfax. During the siege the Roundhead commander, Colonel Birch, was so excited with his new weapon he personally fired the last 19 balls. Roaring Meg is preserved by Herefordshire Council and has been on display at Goodrich Castle since 2004.
Earl of Northampton's Regiment.
in 1689. This one is preserved on Derry's city walls but is currently undergoing restoration.
have been named after the famous cannon.
A Blonde Beer brewed by the Springhead brewery in Sutton on Trent takes its name from the cannon.
Mons Meg
Mons Meg is a medieval bombard which can be classed as a supergun, now located at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. There are conflicting theories about its origins, but it appears from the accounts of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy that it was made to his order around 1449 and sent as a gift 8 years...
, a medieval cannon preserved at Edinburgh Castle.
Created by Colonel Birch for the Siege of Goodrich Castle
Roaring Meg was a mortarMortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
cast in 1646 for the siege of Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
. With a 15.5 inch barrel diameter Roaring Meg was the largest mortar of the war. She was instrumental in the capture of Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
in 1646 by Sir Thomas Fairfax. During the siege the Roundhead commander, Colonel Birch, was so excited with his new weapon he personally fired the last 19 balls. Roaring Meg is preserved by Herefordshire Council and has been on display at Goodrich Castle since 2004.
Firing people in the Earl of Northampton's Regiment
Roaring Meg was also the name of a gun in the CavalierCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
Earl of Northampton's Regiment.
Later cannon
Roaring Meg was also the name of a cannon used during the Siege of DerrySiege of Derry
The Siege of Derry took place in Ireland from 18 April to 28 July 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland. The city, a Williamite stronghold, was besieged by a Jacobite army until it was relieved by Royal Navy ships...
in 1689. This one is preserved on Derry's city walls but is currently undergoing restoration.
In popular culture
A rock band and a retail park in StevenageStevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
have been named after the famous cannon.
A Blonde Beer brewed by the Springhead brewery in Sutton on Trent takes its name from the cannon.
External links
- http://www.northamptons.org.uk/arty.html
- http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=102312&NewsAreaID=2
- http://www.hereford.gov.uk/html/roaring_meg.html
- http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/Press%20Releases/060904-roaring.htm
- http://www.mainmast-conservation.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=7