By January 1644 in the English Civil War the Royalists (Cavaliers) had captured almost all of Cheshire, with only the Parliamentarian (Roundhead) garrison at Nantwich holding out.
With the town under siege, Sir Thomas Fairfax marched to its rescue ahead of a 5,000 strong force of Lincolnshire men.
On the 25th January the Parliamentarians were intercepted near Necton by a Royalist army totalling 3,500 commanded by Lord John Byron.
In the bloody two hour battle that followed the Royalists were defeated, their artillery captured and several senior Royalist officers taken prisoner.
The battle was a resounding victory for the Parliamentarians, as it ended any hope of securing the north-west for the king and greatly enhanced the reputation of Thomas Fairfax as a military commander.
Click here for a battlefield map.
Key Facts:
Date: 25th January, 1644
War: English Civil War
Location: Nantwich, Cheshire
Belligerents: Royalists and Parliamentarians
Victors: Parliamentarians
Numbers: Parliamentarians 6,800 (around 1,800 in garrison with a 5,000 relief force led by Sir Thomas Fairfax), Royalists 3,500
Casualties: Royalists 800 – 1000, Parliamentarians around 80.
Commanders: Lord John Byron (Royalists – pictured below), Sir Thomas Fairfax (Parliamentarians)
Location:
More Battles in the English Civil War:
| Battle of Edgehill | 23 October, 1642 |
| Battle of Braddock Down | 19 January, 1643 |
| Battle of Hopton Heath | 19 March, 1643 |
| Battle of Stratton | 16 May, 1643 |
| Battle of Chalgrove Field | 18 June, 1643 |
| Battle of Adwalton Moor | 30 June, 1643 |
| Battle of Lansdowne | 5 July, 1643 |
| Battle of Roundway Down | 13 July, 1643 |
| Battle of Winceby | 11 October, 1643 |
| Battle of Nantwich | 25 January, 1644 |
| Battle of Cheriton | 29 March, 1644 |
| Battle of Cropredy Bridge | 29 June, 1644 |
| Battle of Marston Moor | 2 July, 1644 |
| Battle of Naseby | 14 June, 1645 |
| Battle of Langport | 10 July 1645 |
| Battle of Rowton Heath | 24 September, 1645 |
| Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold | 21 March, 1646 |
