Siege of Taunton
Encyclopedia
The Siege
of Taunton occurred during the English Civil War
.
Taunton Castle
changed hands several times during the great Civil War
of 1642-45 but only along with the town.
From July 1644 to July 1645 Parliamentary forces commanded by Colonel Robert Blake
were besieged by Royalist forces under Lord Goring
in Taunton, the only Parliamentary enclave in the South West of the country. A relief column under Colonel Ralph Weldon made it to Taunton on 11 May, but the combined forces were still besieged. The two generals held out until help arrived on 14 June after the troops could be spared from the Battle of Naseby
.
Blake, who went on to become a heroic admiral, is famed for declaring that he had four pairs of boots and would eat three pairs before he would surrender.
The town suffered destruction of many of the medieval and Tudor buildings. After the war, in 1662, the castle keep was demolished and only the base remains.
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of Taunton occurred during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Taunton Castle
Taunton Castle
Taunton Castle is a castle built to defend the town of Taunton, Somerset, England.It has origins in the Anglo Saxon period and was later the site of a priory. The Normans then built a stone structured castle, which belonged to the Bishops of Winchester...
changed hands several times during the great Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
of 1642-45 but only along with the town.
From July 1644 to July 1645 Parliamentary forces commanded by Colonel Robert Blake
Robert Blake (admiral)
Robert Blake was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century. Blake is recognised as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy, a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy into...
were besieged by Royalist forces under Lord Goring
George Goring, Lord Goring
George Goring, Lord Goring was an English Royalist soldier. He was known by the courtesy title Lord Goring as the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Norwich.- The Goring family :...
in Taunton, the only Parliamentary enclave in the South West of the country. A relief column under Colonel Ralph Weldon made it to Taunton on 11 May, but the combined forces were still besieged. The two generals held out until help arrived on 14 June after the troops could be spared from the Battle of Naseby
Battle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was the key battle of the first English Civil War. On 14 June 1645, the main army of King Charles I was destroyed by the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.-The Campaign:...
.
Blake, who went on to become a heroic admiral, is famed for declaring that he had four pairs of boots and would eat three pairs before he would surrender.
The town suffered destruction of many of the medieval and Tudor buildings. After the war, in 1662, the castle keep was demolished and only the base remains.