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The third & final siege of Newark
26th November 1645 – 8th May 1646
During the English Civil War there were approximately 300 sieges of various kinds, some lasting only days while a select few were major actions involving thousands of soldiers and civilians alike. Declaring for the Kings cause at the outset of the Civil War the siege at Newark-on-Trent was such a point in history. Assaulted by the forces of Parliament on two prior occasions the third siege was about to be the backdrop to history changing events.
By the autumn of 1645 the Royalist cause across the Country was at a low ebb. On the 14th June 1645 the Kings Field army had suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Parliaments ‘New Model Army’ at Naseby. In the following months one by one the Royalist garrisons were besieged, surrendered or overwhelmed. However, King Charles remained defiant in the face of imminent defeat.
In the North, situated where the Great North Road and the Fosse Way cross the River Trent the town of Newark during the English Civil War was a vital strategic communications centre that in 1645 inevitably attracted the attention of the allied forces of Parliament. The current River courses are almost identical to those in the 17th Century; its bridge was the lowest crossing point of the River Trent. Being at such a crossroads Newark was also the hub of the local economy with a market each Wednesday, which still thrives today, and four fairs per annum.
Following the decisive victory at the battle of Naseby the main body of the ‘New Model Army’ focussed it’s might on the South West of England. Whilst in a relatively military quiet period in the late summer of 1645 the Newark garrison continued to raid local Parliamentarian outposts as far apart as Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire and Barton-on-Humber. They also re-took Welbeck Abbey one of the homes of the exiled Marquis of Newcastle.
In October 1645 the King made one final visit to Newark although the growing strength of the local Northern Parliamentarian forces were gaining the upper hand, routing a Royalist force at East Bridgeford and Langar.
On hearing the news at Newark that the Kings nephew Prince Rupert had surrendered the town of Bristol Charles condemned his most able general of cowardice and treachery. When these accusations reached Prince Rupert he immediately travelled to Newark to plead his case. After some debate Rupert was formally absolved of the charges by the King, however, a decision by the King to dismiss Prince Rupert’s friend Sir Richard Willys as the Governor of Newark in favour of Lord John Belasyse sparked a further quarrel. Tradition has it that this confrontation took place at the Governors House in the towns market square. Prince Rupert left Newark with 300 of his most loyal supporters and did not take part in any further actions during the war.
Methodically Newark’s garrisoned outposts were attacked and taken by Parliaments army of the Northern Association. On the 3rd November 1645 the 200 strong outpost at Shelford Manor was stormed, were it was reported at the time that little quarter was given to the defenders and the house was subsequently looted and burned to the ground. The following day Colonel General Poyntz attacked Wiverton Hall even closer to Newark. The siege only lasted one day, as word of the fate of the Shelford Garrison was known as well as the carnage that ensued at Basing House in Hampshire the previous October. Once again the Parliamentarian forces burnt the house.
Recognising the precarious position facing Newark with the immanent arrival of a considerable enemy force King Charles left the town for the last time with an armed bodyguard and proceeded to make for safety at Oxford the Royalist capital.
On the 26th November 1645 the Scots Army, at that time allied to the English Parliament, appeared before Newark from the North under the able command of the experienced soldier General Alexander Leslie, the first Earl of Leven.
In a short space of time his forces gained control of Muskham Bridge on the Great North Road to the North of Newark, slightly west of the current modern road to South Muskham and deployed his forces on ‘the Island’. The ‘Island’ being the rectangular strip of land created by the dividing and rejoining of the River Trent to the West of Newark. The Scots forces now effectively sealed off the approaches to the town from the North and the West.
At the same time General Poyntz, Colonel Rossiter and Colonel Grey garrisoned their soldiers in the villages to the South and East of the Town from Farndon in the South to Winthorpe in the North. It is estimated that the Parliamentarian forces numbered up to 16,000 soldiers (approximately 7000 with the Scottish Army), a considerable force of arms during the Civil war period. Estimates of the Newark garrison were in comparison between 1500 to 1800 soldiers.
While this encirclement was methodical it was slow in its progress. The poor weather over the winter months of 1645/6 had turned the surrounding area into a muddy quagmire. General Poyntz also tried to divert the course of the River Trent by damming the River at Farndon; he thought would stop the mills in the town producing corn and gunpowder and force the townsfolk to rely on wells for their drinking water. However, a consequence of this act must have been the flooding of large tracts of arable land to the south of the town impeding the movement of Parliamentarian men and material. This attempt was abandoned yet later in the siege and it would prove to be a major contribution to the inevitable downfall of the town.
During this period of time Belasyse took the opportunity to provision Newark and in addition to overcome the shortage of coinage he minted siege pieces from plate donated by the wealthy citizens. The coins were made in a unique diamond shape with the Latin abbreviation OBS (short for ‘Obsessum’, ’besieged’ in Latin).
A great burden was also exacted on the villagers in the region. Both Royalist and Parliamentarian forces demanded food, provisions and taxes from the same parishes with harsh penalties were exacted if they were not paid.
The above map illustrates the present road system in the centre of Newark-on-Trent with the names of key streets and features.
The outer defences of the town were also strengthened from the Kings Sconce (defended by townsfolk) on the North gate to the Queens Sconce South of the town defending the Millgate; it is believed that both were originally constructed in 1644.
In a matter of weeks the Town had transformed itself into a formidable fortress with impassable sod/turf banks with a deep ditch in front around the entire town, with 20 interval bastions with cannon, pitfalls, redoubts, emplacements, counterscarps, half moons and steel turnpikes all added to the defence of the town. Properties outside these defences were torn down so as not to give any cover for the approaching enemy. The whole defensive line measured approximately two and a quarter miles in length around the town. In the centre towering over the town was the twelfth Century Castle and the church of St Mary Magdalene, both imposing symbols of defiance.
In parallel with the efforts of the Royalist forces the Parliamentarian army also dug defensive works in all the villages within a two-mile radius of the town. While there were works at Winthorpe, Coddington, Farndon, Balderton and Hawton. This initial encirclement did not, however, prevent the travel of men and materials into or out of the town
Throughout the harsh winter of 1645/6 the Garrison continued to sally forth in strength from the town and on one occasion with over 400 soldiers they even attacked the headquarters of General Poyntz at East Stoke. In the end narrowly failing to capture the General.
It soon became clear to the Parliamentarian commanders that the intensity of the investment needed to be increased. Consequently, in March and April 1646 the besiegers began to build lines of banks and ditches with interval bastions all around the South and East of Newark. Judging by the evidence of recovered shot found in the castle walls, the River Trent and in the Church these bastions contained numbers of culverins, demi culverins, cannon, demi cannon and sakers. Each fort was 200-250 yards apart purposely to enable each one to cover its neighbour with musketry in the case of a Royalist counter attack.
A consequence of the fall of the Royalist Garrison at Belvoir castle in Leicestershire the Newark Parliamentarian siege forces were re-enforced with over a thousand men and more importantly further cannon, culverins and mortars. However, mortars required skilled gunners, having difficulties with range and trajectory the expensive ordinance it appears that they were little used at Newark. Further firepower came with additional ordnance from Parliamentarian garrisons as far away as Nottingham, Hull and York.
The Scottish Army were left to cover the North and West of Newark. However, unlike the English Parliamentarian Army ‘the island’ to the West of the Town offered the natural barrier of the River Trent so they did not fortify any of the Westerly villages, concentrating their effort on new fortifications on the ‘island’ itself and occupying abandoned former Royalist positions. The most useful of which was the ‘sandhill’ sconce, which was in musket shot of the town wall and allowed a good cannon firing position to try and destroy the important corn and gunpowder mills to the South side of the town.
The Scots also placed a battery to cover the approaches along the Great North Road. A redoubt was constructed in the centre of the island to cover and foray the Royalists might attempt toward the village of Kelham.
To demonstrate their strong position the Scots Army also moved its headquarters and main encampment onto the centre of the ‘island’. This massive 400-foot square earthwork with bastions and semi bastions was named ‘Edinborough’. However, even with all this pressure the Royalist garrison did continually maintain a tentative bridgehead on ‘the island’ immediately in front of Newark castle.
In overall comparison with the Royalist/English Parliamentarian earthworks the Scottish Army‘s efforts were somewhat cruder affairs as in the main they were square earthen enclosures and a ditch lacking palisades or bastions.
Following a Royalist counter attack with a thousand foot and 400 horse on Muskham Bridge, where they narrowly failed to recapture lost ground, with only the ferrying of musketeers across the Trent six at a time by boat saving the day. After this near disaster the besieging forces saw the need for better communication between the two armies. Therefore a redoubt was constructed at Crankley Point at the Northern most tip of the Circumvallation where just across the River Trent were encamped the English Parliamentarians. This was a key point for communication between the two besieging forces and nearby there was constructed a bridge of boats to prevent supplies reaching the town by the river and facilitating a route of retreat from the island in the case of a disastrous conclusion to the forthcoming siege.
After the surrender of Newark Richard Clampes, possibly the chief engineer with the Parliamentarian army drew a plan of the siege works identifying 23 cannon in range of the town walls.
Another effect of the Scottish occupation of ‘the Island’ was to deny the Newark garrison of grazing land for their horses and cattle. The wider effect of this was the lack of milk, butter or cheese for the townspeople. Thus greatly weakening their food stocks.
Across the River to the East of Crankley point was constructed the elaborate ‘Colonel Greys’ sconce, built in the same star pattern as the Queens sconce, boasting eight foot high ramparts and palisades.
Forays to test the Royalist defences of Newark were occasionally made an on at least one occasion a boat equipped with cannon and loaded with Parliamentarian musketeers was floated down the river to attack the town. However, there is no record of how successful the innovative venture was.
Eventually Poyntz moved his main Headquarters closer to the Queens sconce, Colonel Rossiter, following suit, to a point near to Balderton where some of his men at Baldertongate were in musket range of the town and Colonel Grey at Coddington with his men on Beacon Hill.
Newark was completely surrounded in the East and South by the forces of Parliament under the command of General Poyntz, Colonel Rossiter, and Colonel’s Theo and Henry Grey. In the West and North by the Earl of Leven’s Scottish Army who controlled ‘the island’. The Rivers were spanned by boat bridges that linked the two armies, aiding communication.The Newark defences are marked with a thin dotted line whilst the Parliamentarian siege line is in the thicker dotted line with bastions marked.
General Poyntz’s strategy was clearly to bombard the town into submission and to deny it of food, water or any chance of outside relief.
In Newark food rapidly became in short supply resulting in the slaughter of horses for fresh meat. The divergence of the River Trent and River Snite (Devon) proved a major blow to the town. However, the overcrowding also brought dangers such as malnutrition wreaking havoc on the defenders and eventually leading to an outbreak of the plague in March 1646 killing over two hundred souls.
Sensing that the siege was reaching a climax on the 27th March the whole Parliamentarian besieging force held a day of prayer and on the following day General Poyntz called for the surrender of the town. After three days with no word Belasyse requested that he send a dispatch to the King for orders. No armistice was agreed so the siege continued with the steady advance. To the North of the town a small fort was taken allowing musketry on the town. A further fortification on the East side of the town brought another battery of cannons within range of Baldertongate. Within a few short days the English and Scots besiegers had advanced to within carbine shot of the town.
The forces of Parliament and the Scots army resigned themselves to a storming of the town. With saps being dug toward the Queens Sconce and small advances along the entire length of the line.
In parallel with the events unfolding at Newark the King tried to negotiate for peace with the Parliament and separately the Army of the Parliament, yet both refused to negotiate any terms.
With a strong force of Parliamentary soldiers about to besiege Oxford and Sir Ralph Hopton’s royalist forces and garrisons in the West Country crumbling before the advance of the ‘New Model Army’ The Kings only option was to ride north to surrender to the Scots in the forlorn hope that they would change their allegiance.
Terms for his surrender were negotiated on his behalf on the 25th April 1646. Two days later the King left Oxford reaching Southwell on the 5th May. There he formally surrendered to the Scottish Army. Amongst other demands the Scots asked that the King order the surrender of Newark. He refused to do so and was moved to Kelham house to meet the Scottish commissioners under the leadership of General David Leslie. It was here that it was clear he was a prisoner and he was ordered to write to Newark’s Governor Belasyse ordering him to surrender.
At Colonel Rossiters headquarters in Balderton the King signed the surrender document at Midnight on the 6th May 1646. The terms of the surrender were somewhat generous as it was agreed that all noblemen, gentlemen and clergy were permitted to leave the town with their servant’s arms and horses and return to their own houses on condition that they did nothing further against Parliament. Those that wished exile abroad were permitted to do so. Officers and men of the garrison were allowed to march away with horses, arms and possessions either to their homes or to any other Royalist garrison not yet besieged. The personal safety of the town’s people was guaranteed, as was the preservation of their privileges, goods and estates. On receipt of the surrender order it was reported that Belasyse wept and that the mayor wished to fight on, however, common sense prevailed in the end. Lord Belasyse chose to leave England for France.
Two days later the garrison left Newark a day earlier than planned as disease and sickness was so rife. The town was quickly occupied and the town’s folk ordered by Parliament to assist in the dismantling of the fortifications. A task they undertook reluctantly weakened by the ravages of the siege and will little zeal. This disinterest and ill health helped preserve the best remaining English Civil War earthworks in the Country.
It is estimated that during the siege one sixth of the town had been completely destroyed and countless buildings damaged by shot. However, as the siege took place mainly during the winter months the thatch roofs and timber framed buildings were relatively damp must have been a strong factor in preserved them from fire.
The Royalist garrison left behind them twelve cannon, including the infamous ‘sweet lips’ (named after an infamous Hull prostitute and captured from Parliamentary forces during the second siege), two mortars, divers, drakes, and other smaller pieces. 4000 muskets, carbines and pistols, 60 barrels of gun powder, a great store of match, ball and ammunition. However, the Parliamentary soldiers also found little fresh meat, “some plenty” of salt meat, a store of butter and cheese with many barrels of beer and wine. A good store of corn but very little fuel for fires.
The town was described as ‘a miserable stinking place that could spread infection in the adjacent villages and towns’. So bad was the outbreak of plague deaths continued a long time after the surrender with a peak of recorded burials during June/July 1646. It was not until December of that year did the plague finally pass.
With the fall of Newark the first Civil war was for all intents and purposes at an end. Oxford surrendered in June 1646 finally ending the conflict. In January 1647 after negotiations with Charles with regard to the introduction of Presbyterianism in England foundered the Scots handed over King Charles to the English commissioners.
It took Newark many years to recover from the effects of civil war, especially with the disruption to the local agriculture, plague and flooding. It was estimated that the monetary loss to the town of Newark was in the region of £40,000, a vast sum in those days.
The landscape had changed with the construction of earthworks, flooding, the destruction of bridges and the rerouting of roads North of Newark.
Considering that the earthworks around Newark were one of the most extensive of its kind during the English Civil it is not surprising that a lot of them were in existence up until the 19th Century but sadly with intensive ploughing, expansion of the town and increased industrialisation most of them are now lost to history. In 1739 it was noted by one William Stukeley that the forts and earthworks of the circumvallation were all still visible. Even in more recent times the destruction continued unabated with Colonel Gray’s sconce (SK80255605) was almost totally obliterated in the 1960’s with the expansion of the sewerage works.
The Kings Sconce was destroyed in the 19th Century during the building of the railway yet recent building work on the town’s Northgate road has pinpointed the exact location. The archaeologists believe that the ditch was over 2.5 metres deep, within the dig were found clay pipes and coins. The remaining archaeology remains under the car park of the new ‘Homebase' store.
The medieval town wall in Newark has all disappeared under modern developments and only a small section of the Civil war period defence works remain next to Friary house.
The twelfth Century castle was repeatedly bombarded and the remains still show the scars today. After the Civil War the castle was slighted with gunpowder and only the Westward facing wall and towers remain. The interior was remodelled into a park in the Victorian era.
In the Market square still stands the Governor’s house although today it is a ‘Bakers Oven’. The infrastructure of the building has been beautifully maintained and is a very impressive sight. On the opposite side of the Town square is the Church of St Mary Magdalene which was badly damaged in the siege and extensively repaired in the 1650’s & 1660’s. An inscription on a pillar near to the restored font bowl says ‘demolished by rebels May 9th 1646’
The large redoubt to the West of the village of Hawton (SK78545130) is most impressive, built on the site of a medieval hall it can be clearly seen from the adjacent road.
One remaining example of the siege is the impressive ‘Queens’ sconce (SK79055305). Its massive embankments and expanse, eroded over the years, only give one the impression of what this defensive bastion looked like to the attacking Parliamentary forces.
A half moon battery is still visible at ‘Crankley point’ on ‘the island’
(SK78965585) and 100 yards west of the present day Muskham bridge (SK78655622) can be seen the remains of a polygonal three bastioned earthwork that guarded the old River crossing.
The South bastion of the Scottish quarter on ‘The Island’ known as Edinborough still exists (SK78325500) as does the Sandhills Sconce (SK78655382). However, a visit to the latter is not advised without prior permission of the residents of the adjacent traveller’s site.
In the village of Farndon to the South of Newark on the A46 remains a bastion and adjoining banks to the East of the Village (SK 77075166). At the other villages fortified by Parliamentary forces there is little evidence apart from short stretches of decayed banks.
At Stoke Lodge there are two bastions (SK78705445) and near to the present day sugar beat factory there is the ‘brewery redoubt (SK795548). The latter’s outline can still be traced, although it is situated on private land.
A large number of earthworks have disappeared since the Civil War. There were a further two redoubts along the line of ‘Middle beck’ and as many as three redoubts along the Kelham branch of the River Trent. Other redoubts close to Crankley point have been lost to quarrying. Only some remaining stream courses used as part of the circumvallation line nothing else remains of the Eastern and Southern works.
Newark played no part in the second or third Civil wars.
Glossary of terms:
Bastion – a symmetrical forward projection at an angle to a defensive work that gives firing cover to adjacent defences. Normally with two forward and two flanking faces.
Cannon – artillery piece 7000lbs in weight firing a round shot weighing 47ibs.
Demi-cannon – artillery piece 6000lbs in weight firing a round shot weighing 27lbs.
Culverin – artillery piece 4000lbs in weight firing a round shot weighing 15lbs.
Demi-Culverin – artillery piece weighing 3000lbs firing a round shot of 9lbs.
Circumvallation - linear siege works constructed as forward defence and blocking communication.
Counterscarp – the outer face of a ditch.
Halfmoon – an outwork, crescent shaped or with two faces forming a salient angle.
Palisade – a defence of strong timber stakes usually set upright.
Pitfall – a concealed pit to deter attacking forces.
Redoubt – fieldwork with salient angle and two faces.
Saker – artillery piece 2500lbs in weight firing a shot of 5 and a quarter lbs.
Sconce – detached fort with bastions.
Storm poles – horizontal stakes projecting from a defensive works to prevent scaling by an attacking force.
Bibliography:
Newark Civil War & Siege Works 2000
Tim Warner
Newark-on-Trent the Civil War Siegeworks 1964
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
Discovering the Civil War in Nottinghamshire 1992
Sharon Ingham
Destruction in the English Civil War 1994
Stephen Porter
The Cromwellian Gazetteer 1987
Peter Gaunt
Nottinghamshire Heritage News 2003
A History of Newark-on-Trent Volume Two 1907
Cornelius Brown
Fardon Archaeological Research Institute paper 2002
Nottinghamshire in the Civil War 1971
Alfred C. Wood
Claire Philips
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Updated 3 May 2006