BattlefieldsSiege of Wardour Castle
English Civil War

Siege of Wardour Castle

1643
Wiltshire, England
Also known as: Defence of Wardour Castle
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Wiltshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists (Lady Blanche Arundell)
Forces
Royalists c.25. Five-day siege with extreme garrison disadvantage.
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians
Forces
Parliamentarians c.1,300
Outcome
Lady Arundell surrendered after siege; castle occupied by Parliament, then counter-besieged by Royalists and blown up
The Battle

History & Significance

Lady Blanche Arundell defended Wardour Castle with 25 men against 1,300 Parliamentarians for five days before surrendering on terms. Her son then besieged it back, and the Parliamentarians inside blew up part of the castle rather than surrender, leaving the dramatic ruin that stands today.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Wiltshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Wiltshire