The Battle of Nantwich

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It is hard to imagine that in the 17th century there was a bitter Civil War fought in Britain between King Charles I and the people of the opposition to his policies. The majority of Cheshire gantry (ordinary people hardly counted) were Royalist with their headquarters at Chester, the County Town. Moreover, there were troops in Ireland who could be landed at the port of Mostyn on the River Dee and sent to fight in any part of the country. As Nantwich was the next town of any size to Chester it became of strategic importance to the King's opponents or Parliamentarians as they became known.

Sir William Brereton, from Handforth, was the Parliamentary leader in Cheshire and he ordered 50 dragoons, or mounted soldiers, to seize the town on 28th January, 1643. They were led by Major Lothian, an experienced Scottish professional soldier, and John Broomhall. The latter was the son of widow Broomhall who lived in High Street, Nantwich and who would have invaluable local knowledge. On the very same day the Royalists also sent a force to gain control and there were a series of skirmishes around the town. At one point some of the Parliamentary troops dismounted but forgot to tether their horses. Of course the frightened animals ran away and were captured by the Royalists. But the Royalists themselves fled when a 'drake', or small cannon, was fired. In the gloom and confusion of the winter's evening they just could not tell how many enemy soldiers they were fighting. It could have been a vast army.

The next day Sir William sent re-inforcements to fortify Nantwich. The Lamb Hotel in Hospital Street was chosen as the Headquarters and surrounded by earthen walls to withstand cannon balls. Around the town more walls, 4 metres high and 3 metres thick, were built. They had a parapet on top from which to keep guard and sconces at the end of each street. These were star-shaped fortifications which protruded from the walls so that attackers could be fired at from behind.

So whether they liked it or not, the people of Nantwich found themselves in a Parliamentary garrison town. Hundreds of extra men and animals would have to be fed and at any time there might come a savage attack from any direction by superior forces. For the rest of 1643 there are accounts of sporadic attacks but the town defences held.

By December, however, Nantwich was being permanently beseiged by the 'King's forces, having compassed the Towne Round'. The Royalists had their 'works' at Acton and there was a large cannon at Dorfold Hall which could 'shoote and discharge many gleed (hot) Redd Bulletts into the Towne'. Houses and barns were set alight and the women of the town had to carry water from the river to quench the flames. Margery Davenport was killed and buried in the Parish Church on 10th January, 1644. It was noted that on Wednesday, 17th January, the cannons discharged 'foure score and sixteene tymes'. The Royalist forces got as far as the walls on one occasion but 'fledd when ytt was fayre daylight, now faster than theire legges could carry theim... leavinge behind theim theire Skaling Ladders... and some of theire Armes'.

However, help was at hand. Sir Thomas Fairfax, Commander of the Parliamentary forces in Yorkshire, heard about the seige and decided to march from Lancashire to relieve the town, although the people in Nantwich did not know at this time. He linked up with Sir William Brereton and with '2,500 foot and twenty-eight troops of Horse' marched south. (According to Fairfax 'the Enemies Forces were above 3,000 foot, and 1,800 horse'.) By the 24th January, 1644, they were at Tilstone Heath, near Tarporely, only a day's march away. There are numerous eye witness accounts of the events that followed. From the Parliamentary side there are letters written by Fairfax, his account written up after the Restoration and also a journal by one of his officers, Captain John Hodgson. From the Royalist side there are letters written by the Comannder-in-Chief, Sir John Byron, and his brother Sir Robert Byron.

On the morning of the 25th January, which was a Thursday, after camping in the snow, the Parliamentary army with all its baggage and ammunition wagons set off on the 5 mile march to Nantwich. (Their route was along what is now the A51 road to Chester.)
The first skirmish came at the 'pass' of Barbridge, which would have been a much steeper valley than today. The Royalist soldiers lying in wait were soon beaten off and 30 prisoners taken.

Then the army started the long haul up the hill to Hurleston after which they could see the Royalist regiments ready for battle in front of Acton Church. Sir Thomas Fairfax wrote 'We drew up within Cannon shot, which sometimes played upon us, but without hurt, God be thanked'.

Now we come to one of the most interesting aspects of the battle. Only half the Royalist Army was at Acton. The other half, probably cavalry led by Sir John Byron, were marooned the wrong side of the River Weaver. In the night there had been a sudden thaw, the river had flooded and swept away Beam Bridge. When Sir Thomas heard this, he held a council of war and decided to attack the force at Acton, but 'staying to bring up the Rere and Carriages, we gave him (Byron) time to obtain that hee sought for'. Then the plan became to carry on straight to Nantwich so that 'by increase of our force be better able the next day to encounter them'.

Captain John Hodgson near the front says 'we were slowly moving after the pioneers(soldiers with axes to cut down hedges and make a route) with the guns and wagons, the enemy fell on our right flank with all the powers they could and much ado we had to get our party in order. Yet at last it was done through many difficulties and great hazards. It pleased God we kept our ground... and so we put the English - Irish to retreat to their wagons and guns and the church, and there we seized and set a guard about the prisoners,,, Several took up arms for us'.

What had happened was that the other half of the Royalist Army had managed to cross the river and reach the battlefield. The whole force then attacked the side and rear of the Parliamentary Army who had no option but to turn and fight. The battle lasted from half past three till five o'clock and was a bitter contest. On the town side the garrison soldiers, having somehow learned of the advancing relieving force, managed to break out of Nantwich and join in. Sir Robert Byron blamed this on Colonel Gibson only leaving 100 soldiers at Welsh Row instead of the 400 his brother had ordered. Sir John Byron, the Royalist Commander-in-Chief, said his cavalry could not operate because the ground was 'enclosed' (lots of fields, narrow lanes and thick hedges). He certainly managed to reach Chester more or less unscathed - and possibly feeling guilty since the same conditions would apply to both sides.

The outcome was a resounding Parliamentary victory. Hundreds of prisoners were taken including 120 women armed with long knives. 1500 prisoners were lodged in Nantwich Church. It was cleaned after their departure 'from pollucon and beastiness com'itted by them; and all the Matties and bosses were burned; and all the pewes and seates made clayne and washed'. Services were resumed on the 4th February, 1644. There were many celebrations in the town including a 'greate markett'... and plenty needfull things at Reasonable Rates'.

The Battle of Nantwich was the crisis of the Civil War in Cheshire and afterwards Parliament was always in control of the county.

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