Monument record 1083/4/2 - Second Battle of Middlewich

<1> Dore R N, 1966, The Civil Wars in Cheshire, p.33-4 (Book). SCH3108.

In late November 4000 Royalist infantry from Ireland had landed in Flintshire and John, first Lord Byron had arrived from Oxford with 1000 horse to meet and command them. Byron, on discovering that Brereton had a force of Parliamentary troops from north Cheshire and Lancashire (which was hoping to relieve Nantwich) camped at Kinderton Hall, advanced to meet them. On the 26th December 1643, his advance force commanded by his brother Robert Byron, found the Parliamentary troops drawn up south of Middlewich. Robert engaged them until further Royalist Troops came up on each flank. Brereton attempted to retreat through the town, but the narrow streets caused confusion and some troops fled into the church. Brereton’s relief force lost at least 500 men and was scattered.

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

The second battle took place in December or January of the following year when Parliamentary forces Sir William Brereton and Colonel Ashton were defeated by the Royalists reinforced by troops from Ireland, with the loss of two hundred men.

<3> Phillips JR, 1874, Memoirs of the Civil War in Wales and the Marches, 1642-1649, p.116-8 (Book). SCH8649.

This source reproduces Robert Byron’s account of the battle.

Whilst at Sandbach looking for Brereton’s Parliamentary troops, Robert Byron was informed that they were at Middlewich. The Royalist’s, comprising three regiments, approached Middlewich and found the Parliamentary troops deployed ‘two musket shots’ from the town utilising the hedges and ditches for defence. They were engaged for an hour without success, but with the arrival of further Royalist troops, the Parliamentary force began to retreat. Three hundred took refuge in the church and were given quarter so as not to slow the pursuit, which caught many of the fleeing Parliamentary soldiers. Robert Byron reports 300 killed and 274 prisoners taken, along with captured arms and ammunition. Robert Byron was himself wounded.

<4> Tucker, N, 2003, North Wales and Chester in the Civil War, p.34 (Book). SCH8652.

‘…Byron attacked the Cheshire Parliamentarians near Middlewich and defeated them, killing some two hundred…’

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

Byron was informed of the location of Brereton’s Parliamentary force by servants from Kinderton Hall. Brereton had been informed of a skirmish with Royalist troops at Sandbach Heath which influenced him to deploy his troops at the junction of Brooks Lane and Sutton Lane with Booth Lane in anticipation of an attack. The hedges and ditches were defended by his foot whilst the cannon were deployed in the lane and the horse on the flanks. Byron’s advance guard commanded by his brother Robert launched an attack and, despite superior numbers, was unable to displace Brereton’s troops. The initial Royalist attack withdrew to reform, whilst the Royalist horse attacked and succeeded in over running the Parliamentary position. A further attack by elements of the Royalist foot caused the Parliamentary troops to scatter and flee north towards the church leaving c.200 dead.