Over 370 years ago, King Charles I was sentenced to death by chief judge John Bradshaw, who later became Stafford's MP.

Charles I was executed on January 30 1649, for high treason and is the only British monarch to have been tried and executed.

This followed his defeat in the Second English Civil War (1648).

The Civil Wars were mainly the result of disagreements between the King and Parliament.

Charles I believed in The Divine Right of Kings and thought no one had the right to question his rulings whereas Parliament wanted to limit the monarch's powers.

Bradshaw was not first choice for the job, many others had refused the role of Lord President (chief judge) of the High Court of Justice fearing they would be assassinated by one of the King's supporters.

Only 68 of the 135 commissioners (a group of mostly MPs acting as judges) turned up to the trial.

Many of them worried that the trial was blasphemous and were concerned about being involved in potential regicide (the crime of killing the monarch).

Bradshaw was initially reluctant to take up the position, only appearing by the third sitting of the court.

He entered court surrounded by bodyguards, wore armour underneath his robes and had a special hat, reinforced with metal in case anyone tried to shoot him.

Historical records suggest that Bradshaw managed the trial well, ensuring that it ran smoothly although opinion was divided.

Charles refused to recognise the court as he believed God had the right to judge a king and would not enter a plea.

On 27 January 1649, the King was found guilty by Bradshaw and was sentenced "to be put to death by the severing of his head from his body".

He was executed three days later outside the Banqueting House in Whitehall.

Later, in 1654, Bradshaw was elected MP for Stafford and Cheshire however he refused to sign the recognition pledge acknowledging the new army-backed government meaning he took a seat in neither constituency.

He was a committed Republican and disapproved of The Protectorate (the period during which England, Scotland and Ireland were governed by Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector).

Bradshaw died on 31 October 1659 and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

On his deathbed he said, if called upon to try the King again, he would be ""the first man in England to do it".

When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, Bradshaw's body, along with that of Cromwell, were exhumed, hanged and then beheaded.

Their severed heads were displayed on spikes at Westminster Hall.