Colonel William Careless was a Royalist officer of the English Civil War. It has been estimated in various written sources that he was born c. 1620, however, it is more likely that he was born c. 1610. He was the second son of John Careless of Broom Hall, Brewood, Staffordshire, and his wife Ellen Fluit. He is chiefly remembered as the companion of King Charles II when the fugitive monarch hid in the Royal Oak following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. His surname was changed to Carlos, the Spanish for Charles, by order of Charles II. He died in 1689.
King Charles II and Colonel William Careless in the Royal Oak by Isaac Fuller
Careless greeting Charles II in Boscobel Wood, with one of the Penderel brothers, by Isaac Fuller.
A young Charles II, c. 1653
Modern memorial tablet to William Careless, Brewood parish church.
Brewood is an ancient market town in the civil parish of Brewood and Coven, in the South Staffordshire district, in the county of Staffordshire, England. Brewood lies near the River Penk, 8 miles (13 km) north of Wolverhampton and 11 miles (18 km) south of Stafford. Brewood is about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the county border with Shropshire.
Brewood Photoscape
Skyline of Brewood from the canal
Church of England church of St Mary & St Chad, Brewood. The principal church.
Ruins of White Ladies Priory, just west of Bishops Wood, viewed from the north-east.