occasional articles on Kent Heritage from local experts on Kent

A King's Killer - from Ray Clark 

There are not many towns in England that have been home to a Regicide and fewer still where that anti-monachical zealot went on to be Mayor.  But, as our members in Maidstone will probably know, the town was home to Andrew Broughton, whose fine house still stands in Earl Street.

A plaque on the wall describes Broughton as 'Mayor & Regicide' and records that he lived from 1603 to 1688 - given what was to happen during his lifetime, this is a curious coincidence of dates - 1603 saw the arrival in England of James I while it was in 1688 that James II fled to France.

The English Civil War ended in 1649 and we are all familiar with its outcome - the trial of Charles I by a tribunal which had doubtful legality.  Broughton was a member of the court and it fell on him - maybe he drew the 'short straw' - to read the death sentence.

During the subsequent Commonwealth, Broughton seems to have prospered and become a well respected member of his community and, indeed, Mayor.

Upon the Restoration of the Monarchy in May 1660, one of Broughton's duties as Mayor was to read publicly in Maidstone the Proclamation of the return to England of Charles II.

That civic duty completed, it seems that Broughton realised that he was unlikely to be highly popular with the new king and his government.  He quickly left the country and lived first in France but later moved to Switzerland where he died aged 85; in those days a very good age.