Adwalton Moor - Drighlington, UK - Battlefields on Waymarking.com

The English Civil Wars
The First English Civil War (1642–1646) began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War (or "Wars"). "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War (1648–1649) and the Third English Civil War (1649–1651)...

...For the most part, accounts summarise the two sides that fought the English Civil Wars as the Royalist Cavaliers of Charles I of England versus the Parliamentarian Roundheads of Oliver Cromwell. However, as with many civil wars, loyalties shifted for various reasons, and both sides changed significantly during the conflicts." extracted from this link

Battle Of Adwalton Moor
"The site of the battle is high ground in Adwalton (now commonly considered to be part of Drighlington) near Bradford, which is now in an area of rural-urban fringe, (map reference SE2228). Parts of the site are protected as "green belt" or other types of open space. It is the only battlefield recognised by Bradford Metropolitan District Council as falling within its boundaries but it actually lies within the Leeds City Council boundary. There are plaques interpreting the battlefield for visitors." link

This information board on the side of the library has information about the battle together with diagrams. There are a further four simple text plaques marking particular events of the battle, at strategic positions on the moor.

The Text On The Information Board

THE BATTLE OF ADWALTON MOOR

June 30th 1643

ENGLAND AT WAR WITH ITSELF In the first two years of the Civil War, the struggle for control of the north of England and all its wealth and resources was waged between the royalist Earl of Newcastle and, for Parliament, Lord Ferdinando Fairfax. By June 1643, Hull, bradford and Leeds were the last remaining strongholds of Parliament's forces. From February to June 1643, Newcastle had been torn between protecting Queen Henrietta Maria and a vital weapons consignment, and the fight for the North. After the Queen left York on June 4th, however, Newcastle was free to turn his attention to Fairfax and the garrison of Bradford. THE TWO ARMIES COLLIDE Newcastle's first move was to take Howley Hall. Sir John Savile of Lupset refused a summons to surrender, and on June 21st the hall was taken by storm. Newcastle's route to Bradford was now clear. Unfortunately, due to the weather, Newcastle was not able to proceed until the morning of the 30th. In Bradford, Lord Fairfax was in a quandary. The town could not be held against a determined siege, so another course of action had to be taken. In the light of recent success of the Parliamentary attack against the Royalist encampment at Howley Hall. The army would march out at 4 a.m. on the morning of the 30th. This did not happen, and Fairfax's army was not ready to leave Bradford until 8 a.m. This left both armies marching along the same road in opposite directions at the same time. A clash was inevitable. THE OPENING SHOTS The first shots of the battle were fired on the north-western slopes of Whisket (Westgate) Hill on the Wakefield road from Bradford. The Parliamentary advance guard collided with the Royalist advance guard, driving it back up the hill. The Parliamentary advance guard was brought to a halt, and Lord Fairfax had to deploy his whole army to drive the Royalist advance guard from the hill. As the 4,000 strong Parliamentarian army reached the crest of the hill they could see the 10,000 strong Royalist army deploying onto the moor below them. Fairfax's army continued in advance through the the enclosure leading to the moor. A large force of Royalist musketeers manned the edge of of the moor, but were soon driven back, as the Parliamentary front line reached the hedge and bank along the moor's side. THE MAIN EVENT Lord Fairfax's army was split into two wings, and a reserve. Each wing was made up of 1,000 - 1,200 musketeers and five troops of horse (250-350 troopers). Sir Thomas Fairfax commanded the right wing, while Major General Gifford commanded the left. Lord Fairfax commanded the reserve, 500-600 musketeers and a large number of local levies, and the army as a whole. On the moor 10,000 to 12,000 Royalist troops awaited them. The bulk of the Royalist musketeers were at first deployed along the edge of the moor, but had been driven back by the Parliamentary advance. On the ridge behind them stood a line of cannon, firing over their heads at the enemy troops deployed in the enclosures. These guns were supported by bodies of pikemen. To either flank of the army stood large bodies of horse, some 4000 in total. Sir Thomas Fairfax held an enclosure with five troops of horse, supported by musketeers. On two separate occasions, large bodies of Royalist horse attacked the enclosure. They were only able to enter through a narrow gap, and had to receive flanking fire from Fairfax's musketeers. Although heavily outnumbered, Sir Thomas held his ground.

VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT After several hours' hard fighting, the Royalist army was in troble. The Parliamentary musketeers had continued to drive the Royalists back towards their guns, and Sir Thomas Fairfax had driven off the Royalisy horse, and had pursued them almost to their cannon. Newcastle decided to withdraw his army, and orders were issued to that effect. But one of Newcastle's officers, Sir Posthumous Kirton, asked permission to lead a body of pikemen in one final attack. This was the turning point in the battle. Kirton's attack drove the Parliamentarian musketeers back to the enclosures, and then broke into them. This attack was followed up by the right wing Royalist horse, commanded by James King, Newcastle's second-in-command. With tis the whole left wing of Lord Fairfax's army routed, fleeing back to Bradford. Due to the lie of the land, Sir Thomas was unable to see the defeat of the rest of the army and continued to fight for some time. By the time he realised his situation, he had been cut off from the Bradford Road, and had to retreat down a lane towards Halifax. During the night he joined his father at Bradford. THE ROYALISTS TRIUMPH IN YORKSHIRE With the defeat of the Parliamentary army, the Earl of Newcastle continued his advance on Bradford. Setting up his headquarters at Bolling Hall, he ordered the town to be stormed on the following day, and no quarter was to be given. It is said that during the night he was awoken by an apparition, which begged him to "Pity poor Bradford". Whether there is any truth in this story or not, by the following morning he had relented. After a short bombardment, an agreement was reached. The town would surrender on the morning of July 2nd. During the night Sir Thomas Fairfax broke out the remaining troops of horse and marched to Leeds where his father had withdrawn. Lord Fairfax was in a dire situation.His army had been shattered, and large Royalist forces were closing in on Leeds. Hull, his only remaining haven, had been denied him by Sir John Hotham and his son, who were close to changing sides. In the nick of time, news reached him that the citizens of Hull had taken Sir John, and his son prisoner, and had taken controlof the town. By July 4th, Lord Fairfax and the pitiful remnants of his army were safe at Hull. The Earl of Newcastle had gained complete control of Yorkshire, with the exception of that town. Unfortunately, for the Royalists, he did little to take advantage of the situation. In January 1644, a large Scots army crossed the River Tweed into Northumberland. It was the beginning of the end for the King's cause.

Name of Battle: Battle of Adwalton Moor Name of War: The First English Civil War Date(s) of Battle (Beginning): 06/30/1643 Date of Battle (End): 06/30/1643 Entrance Fee: Not Listed Parking: Not Listed

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