BattlefieldsBattle of Lichfield
English Civil War

Battle of Lichfield

1643–1646
Staffordshire, England
Also known as: Siege of Lichfield Close · Three Sieges of Lichfield
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Staffordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalists
Forces
Royalists c.1,500–2,500. Multiple siege phases of fortified cathedral close.
VS
Victor
Parliamentarians (eventual)
Forces
Parliamentarians c.2,000–3,000
Outcome
Lichfield Cathedral Close changed hands three times; finally fell to Parliament 1646
The Battle

History & Significance

Lichfield Cathedral Close — one of only two English cathedrals with three spires — was fortified and besieged three times. During the first siege in 1643, Lord Brooke was shot through the eye by a sniper from the cathedral tower — on St Chad's Day, which local Catholics claimed was divine retribution. Prince Rupert eventually blew the walls with a mine.

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