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On this day 380 years ago, the Second Battle of Newbury was fought




In the autumn of 1644, the English Civil War returned to Newbury.

The Royalists had won a major victory against Parliament at the Battle of Lostwithiel fought in Cornwall between August and September 1644.

The Royalist garrison defended Donnington Castle against relentless bombardment
The Royalist garrison defended Donnington Castle against relentless bombardment

But they had lost control of northern England at the Battle of Marston Moor earlier in July, considered one the largest battles ever fought on English soil.

The tide of the war appeared to be turning in favour of Parliament.

The Second Battle of Newbury was fought on October 27, close to where the first battle was fought a year earlier.

Who won The First Battle of Newbury?

Neither battle was particularly decisive, with both sides failing to make any great strategic gains.

Only this time, the Royalists realised their mistake of letting the Parliamentarians slip away to London the year before.

Before the Second Battle

King Charles I was marching his army east to relieve the Royalist garrisons at Banbury Castle, Basing House and Donnington Castle.

He was intercepted north of Newbury by the combined Parliamentarian forces under the command of Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex.

On October 22, the King stayed at Donnington Castle.

His forces set up defences there, as well as at Shaw House, held by Lord Jacob Astley, and the village of Speen, held by Prince Maurice, the King’s nephew.

Battle formations of the Second Battle of Newbury fought at Speen, Shaw House and Donnington Castle. Credit: Newbury News
Battle formations of the Second Battle of Newbury fought at Speen, Shaw House and Donnington Castle. Credit: Newbury News

The Second Battle of Newbury

The River Kennet prevented any Parliamentary flanking manoeuvre to the south but – crucially – the River Lambourn divided the Royalist forces at Speen and Shaw.

The Parliamentarians skirmished to Clay Hill and exchanged artillery fire with the Royalists on October 26.

During the evening, they split their forces with Sir William Waller and Oliver Cromwell taking around 12,000 infantrymen west to Speen.

Battle commenced the following day.

Actors recreating the Roundhead charge against the Royalist forces at Shaw House
Actors recreating the Roundhead charge against the Royalist forces at Shaw House

Upon hearing the gunfire of Waller’s musketeers, the Earl of Manchester was supposed to attack Shaw House with a force of 7,000 infantrymen, but he delayed.

He claimed the artillery fire at Shaw House was too loud.

The Parliamentarians took Speen but failed to break the Royalist defence at Shaw House.

The first day’s fighting ended. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

While the Royalists had fended off the first enemy assault, they knew they would not survive another.

Under the cover of darkness, the King and his army were allowed to retreat to safety in Oxford.

Both sides exchange musket fire at Civil War re-enactment day at Shaw House
Both sides exchange musket fire at Civil War re-enactment day at Shaw House

The aftermath

Divisions within the Parliamentary ranks, particularly between Oliver Cromwell and the Earl of Manchester, led to Parliament introducing the Self Denying Ordinance in April 1645, a major outcome of the battle which prevented those in political office from assuming military command.

The combined forces of Waller, Manchester and Essex were amalgamated into the New Model Army, which besieged Donnington Castle.

The castle endured a gruelling 20-month siege which started in July 1644.

The castle in ruins. Only the gatehouse stands today
The castle in ruins. Only the gatehouse stands today

Its garrison, under the command of Sir John Boys, defended against repeated Parliamentary attacks until finally surrendering in April 1646.

The occupiers demolished most of the castle, leaving only the gatehouse standing today.

Parliament would eventually win the English Civil War.



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