BattlefieldsSiege of Hurst Castle 1648
English Civil War

Siege of Hurst Castle 1648

1648–1649
Hampshire, England
Also known as: Hurst Castle 1648 · Charles I transferred from Hurst
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Hampshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalist sympathisers (no significant garrison)
Forces
Royalist sympathisers c.50–100
VS
Victor
Parliament
Forces
Parliament c.300–600
Outcome
Charles I held at Hurst Castle before transfer to Windsor and trial
The Battle

History & Significance

Hurst Castle on its spit in the Solent was used as the final place of imprisonment for Charles I before his transfer to Windsor in December 1648 and thence to his trial at Westminster. The castle, one of Henry VIII's artillery fortresses, had been held for Parliament throughout. Colonel Harrison arrived to escort Charles north — an event that Charles himself recognised as the beginning of the final chapter. The remote location of Hurst on its narrow shingle bar made escape impossible.

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