There was a battle here in 1689 between armies of the state defending the right of William and Mary to the throne and armies of the Duke of Monmouth leading a rebellion designed to depose William and Mary. Fundamentally it was a religious war between protestant and catholic faiths. But it may have involved matters of wealth and social position as well. Monmouth lost and ran away. Many of his supporters were chased and arrested. Judge Jefferies presided here and sent 12 men to be executed nearby for taking up arms against the Crown.