This is a Charles II Demi Culverine, 6ft 71/2 inches long probably originally produced as a Drake but later reclassified, even perhaps bored out as a 9pdr. It is mounted on a replica 17th Century Sea Service carriage. The gun seems to date, judging from the cypher, from fairly early in the reign of Charles II as later guns usually have the Rose and Crown. It therefore seems likely that the gun was produced for the Dutch Wars which finally ended in October 1674.
Like many of the guns of this period it would have been reclassed under the poundage system. The gun seems to be of a peculiar length, it might be expected to be 6ft 6 inches or 7ft long.
It has a rather large broad arrow as proof mark on the cascable, a rare location. There are traces of what could be a survey number or possibly the weight on the 1st Reinforce.
If this is a survey number and if it is clearly read, it may be possible to find where the gun was in the period 1699-1700, as this was when Col Brown, Master Gunner of England, carried out his survey of English Artillary. This gave detials of gun length, calibre and weight, together with its location at the time of the survey.
