Battlefields›Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643

English Civil War

Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643

Q: When did Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643 take place?

Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643 took place in 1643, in Wrexham, Wales. On 7-9 November 1643 Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Myddelton advanced from Nantwich and stormed the Dee crossing at Holt Bridge, scaling the gatehouse and lowering the drawbridge to seize the bridge. Most Royalist defenders fled, but some withdrew into Holt Castle, whose commander Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt refused to surrender; the castle itself was NOT captured in this action (contrary to the database's original title) and remained a Royalist garrison. Brereton left a detachment to continue besieging the castle while the main force advanced to occupy Wrexham. Holt Castle did not fall to Parliament until January 1647, after a nine-month siege, when Royalist governor Sir Richard Lloyd surrendered it to Thomas Mytton.

Q: Who won Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643?

Parliamentarians was victorious. The defeated side was Royalists. On 7-9 November 1643 Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Myddelton advanced from Nantwich and stormed the Dee crossing at Holt Bridge, scaling the gatehouse and lowering the drawbridge to seize the bridge. Most Royalist defenders fled, but some withdrew into Holt Castle, whose commander Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt refused to surrender; the castle itself was NOT captured in this action (contrary to the database's original title) and remained a Royalist garrison. Brereton left a detachment to continue besieging the castle while the main force advanced to occupy Wrexham. Holt Castle did not fall to Parliament until January 1647, after a nine-month siege, when Royalist governor Sir Richard Lloyd surrendered it to Thomas Mytton.

1643

Wrexham, Wales

Era

English Civil War

Battle Type

Siege

Location

Wrexham, Wales

Status

Unregistered

The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated

Royalists

Victor

Parliamentarians

Outcome

On 7-9 November 1643 Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Myddelton advanced from Nantwich and stormed the Dee crossing at Holt Bridge, scaling the gatehouse and lowering the drawbridge to seize the bridge. Most Royalist defenders fled, but some withdrew into Holt Castle, whose commander Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt refused to surrender; the castle itself was NOT captured in this action (contrary to the database's original title) and remained a Royalist garrison. Brereton left a detachment to continue besieging the castle while the main force advanced to occupy Wrexham. Holt Castle did not fall to Parliament until January 1647, after a nine-month siege, when Royalist governor Sir Richard Lloyd surrendered it to Thomas Mytton.

The Battle

History & Significance

Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643 was a Civil War siege, the investment of a fortified position, fought at Wrexham, Wales in 1643. Parliamentarians prevailed over Royalists. On 7-9 November 1643 Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Myddelton advanced from Nantwich and stormed the Dee crossing at Holt Bridge, scaling the gatehouse and lowering the drawbridge to seize the bridge. Most Royalist defenders fled, but some withdrew into Holt Castle, whose commander Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt refused to surrender; the castle itself was NOT captured in this action (contrary to the database's original title) and remained a Royalist garrison. Brereton left a detachment to continue besieging the castle while the main force advanced to occupy Wrexham. Holt Castle did not fall to Parliament until January 1647, after a nine-month siege, when Royalist governor Sir Richard Lloyd surrendered it to Thomas Mytton.

Confirmed battlefield location

The ground

The ground they fought on

The site of Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643 lies on Warwickshire Group, bedrock that formed in the Early Permian. The rock here is siltstone and sandstone with subordinate mudstone.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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Civil War

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Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643

Wat's Dyke: Section W of Ty-Gwyn

Scheduled monument · Early Medieval · ~0.4 mi

Wat's Dyke: Section W of Ty-Gwyn is an early medieval linear earthwork situated in Wales. This section of the broader dyke system sits upon bedrock of the Warwickshire Group, Early Permian siltstone and sandstone interspersed with mudstone, which would have influenced both the dyke's construction…

James Emmans / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Wat's Dyke: Garden Village Section

Scheduled monument · Early Medieval · ~0.6 mi

Wat's Dyke: Garden Village Section is an early medieval linear earthwork in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. The dyke forms part of a substantial earthen bank and ditch system that extends across the landscape, serving as a territorial boundary during the post-Roman period. The m…

Geoff Evans / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Bryn Alyn Round Barrow

Scheduled monument · Prehistoric · ~0.8 mi

Bryn Alyn Round Barrow is a prehistoric round barrow located in Wales and protected by Cadw as a scheduled monument under reference DE059. The site occupies ground underlain by the Warwickshire Group, a geological formation of Early Permian age comprising siltstone and sandstone interspersed with…

Jeremy Bolwell / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham

Scheduled monument · Early Medieval · ~1.2 mi

Wat's Dyke at Crispin Lane, Wrexham is an early medieval linear earthwork that forms part of a much longer frontier work extending across the Welsh borderlands. The monument lies on bedrock comprising Warwickshire Group siltstone and sandstone with mudstone bands, typical of the Early Permian geo…

Jaggery / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Wat's Dyke: Section SSW of Wrexham Station, 130m Long

Scheduled monument · Early Medieval · ~1.5 mi

Wat's Dyke is an early medieval linear earthwork that forms part of a substantial defensive frontier stretching across the Welsh-English borderlands. This section, located south-south-west of Wrexham Station, extends for approximately 130 metres and comprises an earthen bank with an accompanying…

Galatas / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Wrexham Churchyard Ornamental Wrought Iron Gates and Screen

Scheduled monument · Post Medieval/Modern · ~1.8 mi

Wrexham Churchyard Ornamental Wrought Iron Gates and Screen is a post-medieval and modern monument protected by Cadw as a Grade II listed structure. Located in Wrexham, Wales, the gates and screen represent fine craftsmanship in decorative ironwork characteristic of their period. The monument sta…

Row17 / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Bryn Alyn Camp

Scheduled monument · Prehistoric · ~0.6 miles

Gatewen Hall round barrow

Scheduled monument · Prehistoric · ~1.6 miles

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Battles near Parliamentarian Capture of Holt Bridge, 1643

Battle of Dungan's Hill

1647

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722

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Battle of Holt Castle

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