Bussex Rhine
Encyclopedia
The Bussex Rhine was a rhyne
, or sizeable ditch, running outside the village of Westonzoyland
in Somerset, England. A rhyne or rhine (rhymes with ‘seen’) is a southern English dialect word for a “large open ditch or drain”. In the 17th century many rhines were used in Somerset
to drain marshy ground.
During the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion
the king’s forces were camped at the rhyne. The rebels under the Duke of Monmouth
attempted a surprise night attack but were fatally delayed by the difficulty of crossing the rhyne. With the element of surprise lost the better-trained royal forces, ably commanded by John Churchill
and armed with cannon, cut the rebels to pieces at what became known as the Battle of Sedgemoor
.
Rhyne
A rhyne , rhine/rhyne , or reen is a drainage ditch, or canal, used to turn areas of wetland at around sea level into useful pasture....
, or sizeable ditch, running outside the village of Westonzoyland
Westonzoyland
Westonzoyland is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated on the Somerset Levels, south east of Bridgwater.-History:The name of the parish derives from its location on the "island" of Sowy, an area of slightly higher ground on the Somerset Levels between the River Cary and...
in Somerset, England. A rhyne or rhine (rhymes with ‘seen’) is a southern English dialect word for a “large open ditch or drain”. In the 17th century many rhines were used in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
to drain marshy ground.
During the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
the king’s forces were camped at the rhyne. The rebels under the Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
attempted a surprise night attack but were fatally delayed by the difficulty of crossing the rhyne. With the element of surprise lost the better-trained royal forces, ably commanded by John Churchill
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
and armed with cannon, cut the rebels to pieces at what became known as the Battle of Sedgemoor
Battle of Sedgemoor
The Battle of Sedgemoor was fought on 6 July 1685 and took place at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater in Somerset, England.It was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of skirmishes around south west England between the forces of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and the...
.