Monument record 1083/4/1 - First Battle of Middlewich

<1> Dore R N, 1966, The Civil Wars in Cheshire, p.26-8 (Book). SCH3108.

The first Battle of Middlewich took place on 13th of March 1643. Having broken up an attempt by Sir William Brereton to recruit for Parliament in Tarporley, Sir Thomas Aston moved to Middlewich in an attempt to continue to frustrate Brereton’s attempts to increase his power base. Aston had three cannon, his horse and over a thousand foot.

Brereton, who had been recruiting with his horse in Northwich, sensed an opportunity and sent to Nantwich for foot to co-operate in a dawn attack. By the appointed hour the foot had failed to arrive and moves against the town from the west by his horse were easily held by the Royalists. A few hours later the Parliamentary foot arrived from Nantwich to the south of the town forcing the Royalist troops to change front to receive the new threat.

The inexperienced Royalist foot were pushed forwards rapidly to meet the new threat, but broke after receiving fire from the enemy forcing the now outflanked horse to retire into the town. The street was defended by musketeers behind a breastwork, but these broke after firing one volley blind. Replacements rushed into position failed to give better account, ultimately breaking when charged. The overall effect was to panic the remaining unengaged Royalist troops causing many to break and flee. Many of the foot took refuge in the church and the horse retreated down Kinderton Lane to the east of the town. The Parliamentary troops surrounded the church and, after blowing in the door, the occupants surrendered. Brereton took captive a large number of officers and the greater part of the foot.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.178-180 (Book). SCH1389.

The first battle in Middlewich was in March 1642-3, when Royalist forces under Sir Thomas Aston were defeated and expelled from the town by Parliamentary forces under Sir William Brereton. The Royalists lost two cannon, ammunition, and nearly five hundred ‘stand of arms’. Casualties were low and nearly equal on each side. However, many of the principal Royalists engaged were taken prisoner. Looting followed and the church was robbed of its plate. Contains a transcription of Aston's report of the battle prepared in his defence following his arrest and detainment at Pulford.

<3> Phillips JR, 1874, Memoirs of the Civil War in Wales and the Marches, 1642-1649, p.54-61 (Book). SCH8649.

This source reproduces both Sir William Brereton’s and Sir Thomas Aston’s accounts of the battle.

<4> Tucker, N, 2003, North Wales and Chester in the Civil War, p.23 (Book). SCH8652.

Reports this as a night engagement.

<5> Middlewich Heritage Trust, 2017, Middlewich Heritage Trust, http://www.middlewich-heritage.org.uk/civil-war/, 13/02/2019 (Web Site). SCH8653.

Includes a concise account of the battle compiled from original documents and letters to the House of Commons which describes a three pronged attack mounted by the combined Parliamentary force. The battle begins with skirmishing by Brereton’s Horse and cannon around Wheelock Street until the force from Nantwich arrives. Parliamentary foot advanced either side of the ditches which flanked road from Wheelock Bridge and outflank the two troops of horse deployed in front of a breastwork (located in the vicinity of the junction with Croxton Lane) defended by musketeers. The horse fell back to the breastwork, which is now also outflanked. This causes the defending musketeers to abandon their arms and flee into the town. Parliamentary musketeers advanced on Royalist foot at Wallange Bridge on the Nantwich road forcing them into a hasty retreat in the direction of King Edward Street. The fiercest fighting was to the south of the town. The Royalists deployed 120 musketeers in the ditches and hedgerows adjacent to Booth Lane and 60 horse in the lane, supported by cannon and pike-men. Despite this, the Parliamentary force managed to outflank the first line of ditches causing the defenders to fall back to the churchyard which is expected to be prepared for defence. The remaining cannon are set to cover Wheelock Street and Lewin Street. The Parliamentary force pressed their attack to its conclusion. Note: this source dates the battle to 1642 following the seventeenth century calendar in which New Year fell on the 25th of March.