BattlefieldsColchester 1648 — St Johns Abbey Outwork Action
English Civil War

Colchester 1648 — St Johns Abbey Outwork Action

1648
England
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royalist forces
Forces
Royalist sortie parties from Colchester garrison
VS
Victor
Parliamentary forces
Forces
Parliamentary siege troops with artillery
Outcome
Parliamentary forces maintained their battery position in St Johns Abbey ruins despite Royalist sorties. Guns in position contributed to the final capitulation.
The Battle

History & Significance

During the Colchester siege of 1648 the ruins of St Johns Abbey outside the south wall were contested between Parliamentary besiegers and Royalist defenders. Parliamentary forces established battery positions in the abbey ruins to enfilade the south wall while Royalist sorties repeatedly attempted to drive them out. The abbey outwork changed hands multiple times during the 76-day siege.

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