The Battle of Rowton Heath

After his catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Naseby earlier in June, King Charles I turned north in an attempt…

After his catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Naseby earlier in June, King Charles I turned north in an attempt to link up with the Marquis of Montrose in Scotland.

Upon hearing that his only remaining port at Chester was under siege, Charles diverted his forces to relieve the defenders.

The battle of Rowton Hill took place over several locations, with the mainly cavalry action lasting over the whole of 24 September 1645. Gradually the Royalist forces were forced to fall back towards the city walls, from where Charles would witness what remained of his army all but wiped out.

“A major disaster” for King Charles, the remnants of his cavalry would meet their end just a few weeks later in an ambush at Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Click here for a battlefield map.

Key Facts:

Date: 24th September, 1645

War: English Civil War

Location: Rowton, Cheshire

Belligerents: Royalists and Parliamentarians

Victors: Parliamentarians

Numbers: Around 4,000 for each side

Casualties: Royalists 1,500, Parliamentarians unknown

Commanders: King Charles I (Royalists), Sydenham Poyntz (Parliamentarians – pictured below)

Location:

The Battle of Rowton

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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