aBurntShip

      Is an Alternative History of the Gunpowder Treason Possible? So far there was nothing in the Plot itself which guaranteed failure -and with its sheer daring, there was a great hope of a triumphant if gruesome success - Antonia Fraser  ( 2005) Not everyone agrees that there is any value in 'What If' speculation. 'Facts, facts, facts,' as Mr Bounderby from 'Hard Times' would put it, 'You are never to fancy'.  On the other hand counter factual history has been popular in recent decades and it is surprising that few seem to have fancied what would have had happened, if in fact Westminster been devastated by gunpowder as intended back in 1605. With a huge swathe of Britain's ruling elite amongst thousands of casualties, there would have been a power vacuum. Along with horrendous damage to the city itself, dying and injured to attend to, countless funerals to organise. Administration records destroyed in the blast.                             Coombe