Registered Battlefield: Battle of Rowton Heath (S) (1000031)

The Civil Wars of the mid seventeenth century were a reflection of the profound political, constitutional, religious and social conflict which was expressed in a struggle between King and Parliament. In September 1645, after the catastrophic defeat at Naseby in June, King Charles I turned north in an attempt to join forces with the Marquis of Montrose in Scotland. His forces diverted to assist the Royalist garrison at Chester which was under siege. The Royalists, however, were being pursued by up to 3,000 Parliamentarian cavalry. The Royalists decide to take on their pursuers before attempting to free Chester. The battle on Rowton Heath lasted all day on the 24 September, but took place in several locations as the tide of fortune ebbed and flowed. The battlefield south of Rowton is the area most clearly identified. Here, early in the morning, the Royalists blocked the advance of Parliament’s forces and threw them back before themselves being forced to retreat closer to Chester. By the end of the day the Royalists had been defeated, suffering such losses that any hopes of resurrecting a Royalist army that were held after Naseby were crushed. The end of the Civil War could not be long postponed. The battle took place on part of an extensive heath with cultivated land only around the villages. Hedge lined lanes divided the heath, and it was along such a lane that the battle was fought.