BattlefieldsSiege of Bletchingdon House
English Civil War

Siege of Bletchingdon House

1645
Oxfordshire, England
Also known as: Bletchingdon Garrison 1645
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists (Colonel Windebank)
Forces
Cromwell's cavalry: c.1,000
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians (Cromwell)
Forces
Garrison: c.200
Outcome
Surrendered to Cromwell April 1645; Windebank court-martialled and shot
The Battle

History & Significance

Cromwell appeared before Bletchingdon House with cavalry and demanded surrender; Colonel Windebank, with a houseful of guests, surrendered without firing a shot. Charles I had Windebank court-martialled for cowardice and shot. The incident showed how rapidly Oxford's satellite posts were collapsing even before Naseby.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Oxfordshire

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 Oxfordshire