CIVIL W a R Brentford

Parliamentarians and Why were royalists confronted What happened here? each other at Brentford On Saturday 12 November at Sir Richard Wynn’s they fighting? and at Turnham house on the road from Brentford to Hounslow Strained relations between Green over a cold a small group of soldiers from Denzil Holles’ the King and Parliament, and foggy weekend red-coated parliamentary regiment heard over the constitution, in November 1642. approaching royalist horsemen. taxation and control of These were part of the 12,000 strong royalist the army, came to a head when the King tried to army commanded by Prince Rupert and General What happened next? Project supported by arrest five MPs. the Brentford & Chiswick Patrick Ruthven, which had marched from Local History Society, Hounslow Heritage Hounslow that morning. Fighting continued that afternoon further east Parliament began recruiting Guides , Syon Park and the at Brentford Bridge and near Ferry Lane. About soldiers in July and by John Hampden Society About 2,000 parliamentarian soldiers, including 600 Designed by Toni Marshall Prince Rupert (1619-82) was Charles I’s 20 royalists were killed in the battle. Perhaps horsemen, had arrived in Brentford the day before. August the Civil War had nephew. A gifted child, skilled in languages 50 parliamentarians died in the fighting and more Short of supplies they had already ransacked the and mathematics, he was involved in begun. Everyone thought military actions from the age of 14. again drowned in the Thames fleeing the royalists. shops in this prosperous market town. it would be over quickly That night royalist soldiers stole supplies in Brentford but between 1642 and Around Wynn’s house, on both sides of the road, and slept in the open. 1646, about a quarter were fields enclosed by hedges.These protected the of English men became parliamentary foot soldiers while they drove off the Parliamentary barges from Kingston, laden with artillery and soldiers and one in 25 royalist horsemen with cannon fire. Only when the ammunition sailed down river overnight and came under of the population died. royalist foot soldiers came up could they force the royalist fire from Syon House, injuring a few men on board. parliamentarians from their defensive positions and CIVIL WAR Royalist cannon on the river bank downstream This is one of advance to Brentford Bridge. Guildhall Library, City of London Gallery, National Portrait London threatened the barges so their crews sank them six information panels in This map was drawn by Moses Glover in However, when the parliamentarian horsemen in House of the royalist, Sir Richard Wynn deliberately to prevent the capture of their cargoes. 1635. Sir Richard Wynn’s House appears Brentford and Foot soldiers used pikes or muskets Lines of Battle on 12 November 1642 THE ENGLISH on the right, above – Syon House lies near Brentford heard the cannon fire, many of them fled Chiswick. the Thames to the left. Brentford back towards London, leaving the town defended Look for MATTHEW SMALLWOOD, A ROYALIST SOLDIER,WROTE the others only by foot soldiers. Syon 1 Brentford As a result of these House 2 Bridge ...we were left masters of the towne. That night most lay in the cold fields. River Brent battles early in the BRENTFORD County Civil War King Charles I Next morning early we were started afresh by the loud music of some 3 Court was prevented from cannon which proved to be some 14 BARGES of theirs who with thirteen KEW capturing London and ending the war. The ordnance and 600 men attempted (very indifferently) TO PASS UP THE River Thames struggle went on until RIVER from Kingston by the town where we lay to London, but being 1646 but the royalists THE OF BATTLE discovered, what from the bancke and from Sion House (the Earl of were never able to CHISWICK ’ ) where we had placed some four musketiers, within two Barley THE KING attack London again. Northumberland s Mow 5 6 Acton Green V or three howers space WE SUNK 4 OR 5 OF THEIR VESSELS with the Turnham Green PARLIAMENT 4 Terrace 1642The Battle of Brentford Gallery,National Portrait London canons in them, took the rest, and 3 pieces in them for our breakfast. V General Sir Patrick Ruthven, Earl of Forth www.battlefieldstrust.com/ commanded the royalist troops with Prince Rupert brentfordandturnhamgreen.

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