BattlefieldsBattle of Maidstone 1648
English Civil War

Battle of Maidstone 1648

1648
Kent, England
Also known as: Maidstone June 1648 · Second Civil War Kent
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Kent, England
Status
Registered · Registered Battlefield (Historic England)
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Kentish Royalists (Earl of Norwich)
Forces
Kentish Royalists (Norwich) c.3000–4500
VS
Victor
Parliament (Fairfax)
Forces
Parliamentary (Fairfax) c.4000–6000
Outcome
Royalist army broken after hours of street fighting; Norwich escaped north to Colchester with remnant
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Maidstone on 1 June 1648 was the decisive engagement of the Kentish Royalist rising — the largest Royalist insurrection of the Second Civil War in England. Fairfax attacked a Royalist force of around 11,000 holding Maidstone. The battle raged street by street for several hours, with the Royalists making a determined stand at the church and along the river. Around 300 were killed. The Earl of Norwich escaped with about 3,000 men who crossed the Thames to Essex, eventually besieged at Colchester. Maidstone was a registered battlefield site.

Registered Historic Battlefield

This battlefield is listed on the Register of Historic Battlefields — a national designation identifying Britain's most significant battle sites for protection and further research. Reference: Registered Battlefield (Historic England).

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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