The Battle of Nantwich

By January 1644 in the English Civil War the Royalists had captured almost all of Cheshire, with only the Parliamentarian…

By January 1644 in the English Civil War the Royalists (Cavaliers) had captured almost all of Cheshire, with only the Parliamentarian (Roundhead) garrison at Nantwich holding out.

With the town under siege, Sir Thomas Fairfax marched to its rescue ahead of a 5,000 strong force of Lincolnshire men.

On the 25th January the Parliamentarians were intercepted near Necton by a Royalist army totalling 3,500 commanded by Lord John Byron.

In the bloody two hour battle that followed the Royalists were defeated, their artillery captured and several senior Royalist officers taken prisoner.

The battle was a resounding victory for the Parliamentarians, as it ended any hope of securing the north-west for the king and greatly enhanced the reputation of Thomas Fairfax as a military commander.

Click here for a battlefield map.

Key Facts:

Date: 25th January, 1644

War: English Civil War

Location: Nantwich, Cheshire

Belligerents: Royalists and Parliamentarians

Victors: Parliamentarians

Numbers: Parliamentarians 6,800 (around 1,800 in garrison with a 5,000 relief force led by Sir Thomas Fairfax), Royalists 3,500

Casualties: Royalists 800 – 1000, Parliamentarians around 80.

Commanders: Lord John Byron (Royalists – pictured below), Sir Thomas Fairfax (Parliamentarians)

Location:

The Battle of Nantwich

More Battles in the English Civil War:

Battle of Edgehill 23 October, 1642
Battle of Braddock Down 19 January, 1643
Battle of Hopton Heath 19 March, 1643
Battle of Stratton 16 May, 1643
Battle of Chalgrove Field 18 June, 1643
Battle of Adwalton Moor 30 June, 1643
Battle of Lansdowne 5 July, 1643
Battle of Roundway Down 13 July, 1643
Battle of Winceby 11 October, 1643
Battle of Nantwich 25 January, 1644
Battle of Cheriton 29 March, 1644
Battle of Cropredy Bridge 29 June, 1644
Battle of Marston Moor 2 July, 1644
Battle of Naseby 14 June, 1645
Battle of Langport 10 July 1645
Battle of Rowton Heath 24 September, 1645
Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold 21 March, 1646

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