BattlefieldsSiege of Ruthin Castle
English Civil War

Siege of Ruthin Castle

1646
Denbighshire, Wales
Also known as: Ruthin Castle Civil War Siege 1646
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Denbighshire, Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists (Ruthin garrison)
Forces
Royalists c.120-180 garrison
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians (Thomas Mytton)
Forces
Parliamentarians c.1,000-1,500
Outcome
Parliamentary victory after eleven-week siege; castle slighted 1648
The Battle

History & Significance

Ruthin Castle — site of the first sacking by Owain Glyndŵr in 1400 — was besieged by Major-General Mytton from April 1646. Heavy artillery pounded the medieval walls but the garrison held for eleven weeks before the threat of undermining forced surrender. Parliament ordered Ruthin slighted in 1648 and much of its stonework was carted away for local building. The ruins became a Victorian hotel — now still operating as Ruthin Castle Hotel.

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