The Battle of Nantwich

It was a rather wild and windy night.  There was little protection from the elements as the mooring is high on an exposed embankment.  Jan spent much of the night lying awake listening to the rattling of the solar panels and wondering whether we’d lost anything (we didn’t).  I suppose we could have moved to a more sheltered location, but then there is the risk of a tree being blown down onto the boat.

This morning Jan decided to thoroughly go through the galley cupboards.  Apparently we have had a christmas pudding for the last two years.

As you can see from the expiry date, it will have to be eaten this year!  She also found two christmas cakes which need to be consumed before February.

It makes you wonder about the quantity of preservative in the cakes and pudding!

The front had passed by 1pm and I decided to go for a short walk disposing of the rubbish in the CRT bin along the way.  My route took me to the site of the “Battle of Nantwich”. 

The battle was fought here on the 25th January 1644 during the English Civil War.  Prior to the battle the Royalists forces had taken control of most of this part of England except for the town of Nantwich.  The town was held by the Parliamentarian forces under the command of Colonel George Booth and under siege from the Royalist forces commanded by Lord Byron.  The Parliamentarian forces in the town comprised some 2000 men whilst Lord Byron had approximately 3500.  A second Parliamentarian force arrived from Manchester to break the siege.  Unfortunately for the Royalists the weather turned and and the thaw (it was winter) saw the River Weaver rapidly rise forcing Byron to split his cavalry from his infantry and artillery.  The latter moved NW of the town. 

The Royalists were in the west with their headquarters in the church at Acton whilst the Parliamentarian forces were in the east.  The Royalist forces were divided and this contributed to their defeat.  There HQ came under attack and some 1500 Royalists in and around the church subsequentially surrendered.  Signs of musket ball strikes can been seen on the south side of the church.

The defeat of the Royalists battle marked a turning point in the war with the Parliamentarians going from a defensive to offensive footing.

These days the canal cuts through what would have been the centre of the battlefield.