James Parnell was one of the first Quaker preachers to die for his faith during the 17th century. His short life was a troubled one: from his birth in East Retford, his arrest and imprisonment in Cambridge, and ultimately his death in Colchester Castle after being confined in a wall niche, twelve feet from the ground. Why would somebody be confined in such a place?

In this book, I'll look further at his time in Colchester Castle, and will try to discover just what these niches might have been. I'll use architectural references from Chepstow Castle and the White Tower at the Tower of London to help uncover the lost evidence at Colchester Castle. Finally, I'll look at the circumstances surrounding his death and try to answer the questions as to why these events happened and why those who tried to help him were prevented from doing so.

Was Parnell a victim of religious intolerance or was he simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Did Parnell play a part in his own downfall by his antagonistic behaviour and how did the legal process at the time contribute to his death? I'll let you decide as you read the life story of the Quaker preacher James Parnell.