BattlefieldsAction at Sherburn-in-Elmet 1642
English Civil War

Action at Sherburn-in-Elmet 1642

1642
West Riding, England
Also known as: Sherburn fighting 1642 · Fairfax at Sherburn
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
West Riding, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Parliamentarians (Fairfax)
Forces
Parliamentarians (Fairfax) c. 400-600
VS
Victor
Royalists
Forces
Royalists c. 500-700
Outcome
Fairfax driven from Sherburn; Royalists consolidated control of the Selby-Sherburn axis
The Battle

History & Significance

The early Civil War in Yorkshire saw repeated skirmishing along the road axis between York and Selby, the key route connecting the Royalist capital at York with the Great North Road. Sherburn-in-Elmet, commanding the junction of several roads, changed hands multiple times. Fairfax's defeat here in late 1642 was one of several reverses that forced Parliament onto the defensive in Yorkshire until the arrival of the Scottish army in 1644.

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