Sir, It is my understanding that the rhyme of Humpty Dumpty (report, July 9) was actually based on a large cannon used during the English Civil War in the Siege of Colchester in 1648. The cannon was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary’s Church, Colchester. Apparently, a shot from a parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath Humpty Dumpty, which caused the cannon to fall to the ground. “All the King’s men” attempted to lift Humpty Dumpty back on to the wall.
However, because Humpty Dumpty was so heavy “All the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again”. Consequently, Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege of 11 weeks.
J. WAGSTAFF, Drybrook, Glos