BattlefieldsSiege of Farnham Castle 1642
English Civil War

Siege of Farnham Castle 1642

1642
Surrey, England
Also known as: Farnham 1642 Civil War · Waller takes Farnham Castle
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Surrey, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists
Forces
Royalist garrison c. 200–300; siege December 1642.
VS
Victor
Parliament (Sir William Waller)
Forces
Parliamentarians (Waller) c. 2,500–3,500
Outcome
Farnham Castle secured for Parliament; Hampshire campaign opened
The Battle

History & Significance

Farnham Castle, seat of the Bishops of Winchester, was a key strategic position controlling the western approaches to Surrey and the road between London and the West. It was secured for Parliament by Sir William Waller in late 1642 and held as a parliamentary base throughout the war. Waller used it as a springboard for his Hampshire and Sussex campaigns. The castle's artillery made it a powerful defensive and offensive base.

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