BattlefieldsSiege of Old Wardour Castle (Counter-siege)
English Civil War

Siege of Old Wardour Castle (Counter-siege)

1644
Wiltshire, England
Also known as: Wardour Counter-siege 1644
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Wiltshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Parliamentarians (garrison)
Forces
Royalist besiegers: c.300
VS
Victor
Royalists
Forces
Parliamentary garrison: c.50
Outcome
Royalist counter-siege forced Parliamentary garrison to blow up part of the castle rather than surrender
The Battle

History & Significance

After Lady Arundell surrendered Wardour in 1643, a Parliamentary garrison occupied it. Henry Arundell then besieged his own family home back. The Parliamentary garrison set a huge mine and blew up part of the castle rather than surrender on unfavourable terms. The dramatic ruin is largely the result of this internal explosion.

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