The Battle of Malmesbury 04-05.05.2025

Wiltshire at War 

An English Civil War Conflict to secure Malmesbury

Charlton Park, SN16 9LL  

When the English Civil broke out in the summer of 1642, most people in the south-west of England shared the general expectation that the war would probably be decided quickly by a battle fought in the vicinity of London. There were stark differences among the three south-western counties; Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, not only in their political support for either Charles I or Parliament, but also in terms of their topography and socio-economic factors. All three counties suffered major economic depression and wanted some form of reform, combined with the gentries’ hold on tenants and religious discontent, soon the Civil War would engulf the whole of the south-west of England. Wiltshire’s role in the English Civil War was of prime importance for the supply of food, uniforms and munitions, and was largely in support of Parliament. It was not until Charles I moved his headquarters to Oxford and Lord Ralph Hopton’s army arrived from Cornwall that towns in Wiltshire began to be taken by the Royalists. The towns of Wiltshire were considered strategic assets whereby both the Royalist and Parliamentarian forces wanted to gain control of. This is because many towns in Wiltshire, for example Devizes, Marlborough and Malmesbury, are situated on what was then the main route from London to the West Country, and the wealthy ports of Devon and Somerset. Wiltshire was now embroiled in the English Civil War.

Source: Wiltshire Archaeology Group