the control of Parliamentarians (red) at the time of the battle the of time the at (red) Parliamentarians of control the

in a conflict known as The Thirty Years’ War. They They War. Years’ Thirty The as known conflict a in

Two blocks of pikemen engage on the battlefield the on engage pikemen of blocks Two

This map shows the Royalists contolled centres (blue) and those under under those and (blue) centres contolled Royalists the shows map This

Ralph Hopton, served together on the continent continent the on together served Hopton, Ralph

In the 1620s two young men, William Waller and and Waller William men, young two 1620s the In

CHRISTCHURCH commanders opposing The

PORTSMOUTH

the character of the Civil War south of the Thames. the of south War Civil the of character the

epic showdown, the result of which was to influence influence to was which of result the showdown, epic

ridge at Hinton Ampner. The scene was set for an an for set was scene The Ampner. Hinton at ridge

Parliamentarians camped across the valley on a lower lower a on valley the across camped Parliamentarians

SOUTHAMPTON

camp on the high ground of Tichborne Down. The The Down. Tichborne of ground high the on camp

The Royalist army gained Alresford and set up up set and Alresford gained army Royalist The

650m with ball and up to 200m with canister-style shot. canister-style with 200m to up and ball with 650m

and skirmished throughout the next two days. days. two next the throughout skirmished and ROMSEY

of range a had Cheriton at pieces The design. and

two armies were within two miles of each other other each of miles two within were armies two

River Itchen River

sizes different of guns of range a of consisted Artillery approach roads to Winchester. On 25 March the the March 25 On Winchester. to roads approach

CHERITON WINCHESTER countermarching to gain control of the eastern eastern the of control gain to countermarching

therefore more manoeuvrable. more therefore Parliamentarian armies marching and and marching armies Parliamentarian

used similar weapons, but were less heavily armoured and and armoured heavily less were but weapons, similar used Early March 1644 saw the Royalist and and Royalist the saw 1644 March Early

harquebusiers, who formed the bulk of the cavalry at Cheriton, Cheriton, at cavalry the of bulk the formed who harquebusiers,

River Test River ALTON

armoured and carried pistols, carbine and sword. The The sword. and carbine pistols, carried and armoured in the front line. line. front the in

BASING HOUSE BASING

were two types of cavalry. The cuirassiers were heavily heavily were cuirassiers The cavalry. of types two were

Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. Hampshire was now now was Hampshire Wiltshire. and Dorset, Somerset, FARNHAM

ANDOVER There troops. ten to three of consist could regiment A forces, drove Waller and his Parliamentarians out of of out Parliamentarians his and Waller drove forces,

captain. a of command the under men 80 and 25 west, where Hopton, the commander of the Royalist Royalist the of commander the Hopton, where west,

between of troop a was cavalry of unit basic The The campaign season of 1643 started in the south- the in started 1643 of season campaign The

Gallery, London Gallery, London Gallery, Portrait National ©

© National Portrait Portrait National © Stratton of Hopton Baron 1st Cheriton to road The

used as a club in hand-to hand combat. hand hand-to in club a as used

Waller William Sir Hopton Ralph

reload, but with the gun weighing up to 6kg, it could also be be also could it 6kg, to up weighing gun the with but reload,

republican rule known as the Commonwealth. the as known rule republican

100m. It took an experienced musketeer 30–60 seconds to to seconds 30–60 musketeer experienced an took It 100m.

to lose his head and the country entered a period of of period a entered country the and head his lose to

charge, firing a lead ball the size of a marble with a range of of range a with marble a of size the ball lead a firing charge,

point in the war. Within five years King Charles I was was I Charles King years five Within war. the in point

musket was fired by a slow-burning taper setting off the main main the off setting taper slow-burning a by fired was musket

Cheriton was fought, and it proved to be a turning turning a be to proved it and fought, was Cheriton

measured charge of powder. The front-loading matchlock matchlock front-loading The powder. of charge measured

fought brother. On 29 March 1644 the Battle of of Battle the 1644 March 29 On brother. fought

slung across the chest, from which hung containers with a a with containers hung which from chest, the across slung

country was divided – son fought father and brother brother and father fought son – divided was country

groups. They wore the distinctive bandolier, a leather belt belt leather a bandolier, distinctive the wore They groups.

Commons, called Parliamentarians. The The Parliamentarians. called Commons,

devastating volley or, as in Cheriton Wood, tactically in small small in tactically Wood, Cheriton in as or, volley devastating

supported the rights of the House of of House the of rights the supported

Musketeers could either be used en masse to deliver a a deliver to masse en used be either could Musketeers King Charles I Charles King

On the other were those who who those were other the On

his supporters called Royalists. Royalists. called supporters his

through the opposition. opposition. the through

the Divine Right of Kings, and and Kings, of Right Divine the

the subsequent Civil War shattered their friendship. their shattered War Civil subsequent the

met, the rear ranks pushed those in front forward driving driving forward front in those pushed ranks rear the met,

King Charles I, a believer in in believer a I, Charles King

the king grew. Although they were to retain good relations, relations, good retain to were they Although grew. king the

three ranks levelled at the enemy. When two blocks of pike pike of blocks two When enemy. the at levelled ranks three

civil war. On one side stood stood side one On war. civil

Charles I’s unconstitutional rule, while Hopton’s support for for support Hopton’s while rule, unconstitutional I’s Charles

stood in blocks eight ranks deep with the pikes of the front front the of pikes the with deep ranks eight blocks in stood

Britain was divided by bloody bloody by divided was Britain

of Parliament, but Waller became increasingly unhappy with with unhappy increasingly became Waller but Parliament, of

whose main weapon was a 16 foot ash pike tipped with steel, steel, with tipped pike ash foot 16 a was weapon main whose

Between 1642 and 1649 1649 and 1642 Between

to his residence in Winchester Castle. Both became Members Members became Both Castle. Winchester in residence his to formed of companies of 100 to 140 men each. The pikemen, pikemen, The each. men 140 to 100 of companies of formed

Cheriton England, Hopton went home to Somerset and Waller moved moved Waller and Somerset to home went Hopton England,

Civil War foot regiments consisted of pikemen and musketeers musketeers and pikemen of consisted regiments foot War Civil

sister from the besieged city of Prague. On their return to to return their On Prague. of city besieged the from sister

The Battle of of Battle The Weapons and war and Weapons became close friends and together rescued King Charles I’s I’s Charles King rescued together and friends close became

A313 A3057

A30 M3 CHERITON 9 Alresford

Winchester 10 BATTLE FIELD A31 Cheriton WALK 11 A272

A3057

How to get there A27 A detail of Arnald’s painting, c1810, showing M3

Cromwell’s artillery train approaching Winchester The13 walk starts from the car park of the Hinton Arms, A3090

14 A3 A36 4 grid reference SU 5906 2785, 10 kms east of Winchester

4 on5 the A272. You can leave your car at the pub but please Winchester in the Civil2 War3 1 M27 park considerately.M27 A33 A35 M271 As in most places in Britain, the loyalties of the people A27 Buses: Stagecoach7 service 67 Winchester to Petersfield. of Winchester were divided. Of the city’sA336 two MPs, oneA33 NearestA3024 stop New Cheriton Crossroads.A334 supported parliament and the other the king. The city A3051 8 A3025 A3 (M) sat in a major strategic position, controlling the road The full walk is 8¾ kms long, takingA32 3 – 3½ hours but you

from Southampton to the north, and the western road can create shorter circular9 routes using the map overleaf. There from Portsmouth. As a result, the city was to pay a heavy are some gentle inclines with surfaces10 ranging from dirt tracks A3 11 price. In December 1642 the Royalists entered Winchester to tarmac road. Remember to wear appropriateM27 footwear and A27

Castle, closely pursued by Parliamentarians who captured always follow the Countryside Code. 12 and ransacked the city. The next day the ill-prepared A326 A32 A323 Royalists surrendered the castle. In 1643 the city and castle M275 Acknowledgements were retaken by the Royalists and the defences of both Gillian Gray Knight, Richard Pearce and the Sealed Knot, Hampshire were strengthened. In 1644, after the Battle of Cheriton, Cultural Trust, Richard and Anne Mattia at the Hinton Arms and the Parliamentarians under Waller once again captured Hampshire County Council Countryside Service. and sacked the city, although the castle remained in Originally produced by the Battle of Cheriton Project Ltd as part The Battle of Cheriton was a major turning point in the English Royalist hands. The castle was taken by Oliver Cromwell of a programme of activities explaining the importance of this Civil War and resulted in an important Parliamentarian victory battlefield and of the events that unfolded across Hampshire on 5 October 1645 and soon after was blown up and during the English Civil War in 1644. that helped shape the future of England. Follow this trail that sets out from the Parliamentarian camp at Hinton Ampner and made unusable. For further information log onto www.visitwinchester.co.uk embark on the walk taken by the troops on 29 March 1644 to www.battlefieldstrust.com the Cheriton Battlefield, tracing the movements of the soldiers who shaped our nation. If you would like this leaflet in a larger format please contact the tourist information centre on 01962 840 500 or e-mail [email protected]

visitwinchester.co.uk

Winchester Castle ruins

© Winchester City Council 2018. TICHBORNE DOWN 1 This walk begins in the car park of The 6 After you reach the end of the lane, Hinton Arms public house. The landscape continue on a short distance along the of hedgerows, lanes, and woods has hardly road which will then bear right taking you ROYALISTS changed since the day of the battle. As you leave to a T junction and the site of a memorial the car park turn right, taking care as you follow commemorating the troops from both sides the path along the side of the A272. It is barely who lost their lives during the battle. This high light on the morning of 29 March 1644, the eve ground, occupied by the Royalist force, offers of battle. A thick mist lingers in the valley and the best view of the battlefield. Cheriton 6 clings to the slopes of the ridge of high ground Wood, now in Royalist hands, can be seen on on your right. Leaving Cheriton to its fate, you the left although the main Parliamentary army walk on. is obscured by East Down in the middle distance. Hopton now takes the decision to 2 At this point on the road, as the light move his troops forward onto this ridge. You improves, you are greeted by an awesome sight. decide to follow. Re-trace your steps along the Badshear Looming out of the mist, in the fields on your road to the junction with Alresford Lane, and Lane right, is the Parliamentary force, 10,000 strong. continue along the road as it bears right onto It is so close you can smell the horses and hear Badshear Lane. Alresford Lane the shouts of command. To the rear are the cannon, in the centre the main body of troops, 7 At this point turn left, off the road, 7 pikemen and musketeers, flanked to left and along the footpath. You can clearly hear the right by cavalry. Just past the bus stop on your sound of battle as you approach the ridge, a left turn north away from the main road and position the Royalist commanders were content continue up the gentle incline on the north side to hold. But one of their officers, Sir Henry CHERITON of the shallow valley. Bard, has rashly led his infantry in an attack. WOOD Surprised by Parliamentarian cavalry, his men 3 You have attempted to clear the are being cut to pieces. Parliamentarian lines but through the morning Broad Lane mist you begin to make out the distinctive sounds 8 As you reach the ridge turn right, along of troops and cavalry preparing for battle. This is the rear of the Royalist lines. Bard’s action Upper the Royalist force of 7,000 and they are directly has resulted in increasing numbers of Royalist Lamborough ahead of you, although it is impossible to say troops being committed to the attack. Losing Lane how far. It is time to try and exit the battlefield, the advantage of the high ground, they but it may already be too late. At the crossroads engage with the advancing Parliamentarian 8 turn right, along Cheriton Lane. musketeers. Fierce fighting has broken out all 5 along the line. With one last roll of the die the 4 EAST DOWN As you reach the end of the lane you hear Royalists send in their cavalry. the sound of musket shots, mingled with shouts 9 and cries, some distance away on your left. The 9 Turn left down the lane towards Cheriton. battle has begun. Now curiosity gets the better The terrain only allows the cavalry to advance Cheriton Lane of you, you must have a closer look. This is your in small groups down two lanes and you Sunken 4 chance to see history in the making. Turn north follow one towards Cheriton. Parliamentarian Lane 10 off of Cheriton Lane along a short stretch of troopers are deployed and waiting for them. 3 track joining Alresford Lane. Follow this route to Outnumbered and hemmed in by the deep the edge of Cheriton Wood. sunken lanes, they are beaten back. Now Waller River CHERITON A272 makes his move. Looping round both flanks of Itchen 5 During the night the Parliamentarian the Royalist force, his infantry advance, every commander, William Waller, positioned a mixed ditch and hedgerow is contested as the Royalists force of cannon, cavalry and musket in the begin to give ground. Battlefield walk 2 wood in an attempt to outflank the Royalist line. BRAMDEAN Ralph Hopton, the Royalist commander, quickly 10 Turn right down the sunken hollow of Other footpaths moved to counter the threat, sending a force of Cheriton lane. Battle rages in the fields 1,000 musketeers to take the wood. The sound above and the wreckage litters the fields. Cannon Hinton 1 of fighting is getting closer. Several riderless As many as 500 may have died with many Arms horses come careering out of the trees, with the more wounded. The Royalists have been Pikemen remaining Parliamentary troops close behind. forced back to their original position from Hopton’s musketeers, now using their muskets as where Hopton will make an ordered retreat Musketeers clubs, have routed Waller’s inexperienced London to Basing House, sacking Alresford on his way. Brigade who are now in full retreat back to the Our story of the battle is now over and your Cavalry Source of safety of their own lines, and you are in their journey through it almost at an end. Walk the River way! You continue towards the relative safety of back along the lane and turn right towards the Itchen the Royalist position, after all, they do appear to road. Returning to the A272, turn left back to be winning... Continue along Alresford Lane. the Hinton Arms. PARLIAMENTARIAN