Battlefields›Action at Duns Law 1640
English Civil War

Action at Duns Law 1640

1640
Berwickshire, Scotland
Also known as: Second Bishops War opening moves 1640
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Berwickshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English Royalists
Forces
English Royalists c.1,000–2,000
VS
Victor
Covenanters
Forces
Covenanters c.5,000–8,000
Outcome
Scots advance guard crosses the Border; English resistance collapses
The Battle

History & Significance

The Covenanting advance in August 1640 swept aside token English resistance on the Border before the decisive engagement at Newburn Ford, demonstrating total English military unpreparedness.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Action at Duns Law 1640

Cairnbank, settlement 210m ENE of
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Duns Law,fort and Covenanters' Camp
Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~0.5 miles
Dunsmill Farm, settlement 125m NNE of
Scheduled monument · ~1.1 miles
Preston Church, church and burial ground
Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~2 miles
Preston Market Cross, 35m ESE of 1 Preston Cottages
Scheduled monument · ~2.1 miles
More from this era

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Graham Clan Deportation 1605
1605
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Alasdair MacGregor Capture and Execution 1604
1604
Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Campbell Suppression — Glen Strae Sweep 1604
1604
Scotland
Teviotdale Clearing 1603
1603
Scotland
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