BattlefieldsStand-off at Turnham Green
English Civil War

Stand-off at Turnham Green

1642
Middlesex, England
Also known as: Battle of Turnham Green 1642 · London Trained Bands confront Charles I
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Middlesex, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists
Forces
Royalists c. 10,000–12,000; decisive show of force.
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians (Charles I withdrew)
Forces
Parliamentarians c. 24,000+ (London trained bands)
Outcome
Charles I confronted by massive Parliamentary and Trained Band force; withdrew without battle; London never seriously threatened again
The Battle

History & Significance

The most consequential non-battle of the Civil War. After Brentford, Londoners poured out to Turnham Green — perhaps 24,000 Trained Band militia — to confront the Royalist army. Charles I, outnumbered and facing a city that refused to yield, withdrew to Oxford. This was the moment the war became a long conflict rather than a Royalist walkover. The Civil War's duration — and all its consequences — stem from this stand-off.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Middlesex

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 Middlesex