A 1-metre-tall stone sculpture titled The Royal Crown, created by Planet Art in 2004, serves as a memorial to the Stuart Restoration. The work was inspired by one of four stones excavated from Bentley Hall, surrounding Bentley Cairn. It tells the story of King Charles II sheltering there after losing the English Civil War and is engraved with a depiction of the crown he regained.
The Stuart Restoration marked the return of the Stuart monarchy to England, Scotland, and Ireland in May 1660, ending the Interregnum and the Commonwealth. After his return from exile, Charles II entered London on 29 May 1660, his thirtieth birthday, and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1661. The period saw significant cultural shifts, including the reopening of theatres and the flourishing of Restoration comedy and literature.
The restoration of the monarchy also involved the re-establishment of the Church of England through the Clarendon Code. While many former opponents of the Crown received a general pardon under the Indemnity and Oblivion Act 1660, those directly involved in the trial and execution of Charles I were excluded. Ten of these regicides were executed in October 1660, and another nineteen were imprisoned for life.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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