Battle of Gunnislake New Bridge

Add links
Coordinates: 50°31′43″N 4°12′43″W / 50.52861°N 4.21194°W / 50.52861; -4.21194
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Battle of Gunnislake New Bridge
Part of the First English Civil War

Gunnislake New Bridge
Date20 July 1644
Location
Gunnislake, Cornwall
50°31′43″N 4°12′43″W / 50.52861°N 4.21194°W / 50.52861; -4.21194
Result Royalist victory
Belligerents
Royalists Kingdom of England Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Sir Richard Grenville
Thomas Southcott		 Earl of Essex
William Balfour
Strength
~ 2000 ~ 2500
Casualties and losses
200 40

The Battle of Gunnislake New Bridge took place on 20 July 1644 on and around Gunnislake New Bridge, a bridge over the River Tamar between Cornwall and Devon, during the First English Civil War.

Background

During the Civil War the county of Cornwall was entirely loyal to King Charles I and the Royalist cause. However, Devon was Parliamentarian, making the River Tamar the site of many battles. Each side understood that if they were to either invade the other county or defend against invasion, they had to have control of the Tamar's crossings. Gunnislake New Bridge was one of four bridges crossing the River Tamar.[1]

Battle

The Parliamentarian forces, headed by Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, pushed into Cornwall over the bridge. They were met by Richard Grenville's forces, who were quartered at the garrisons of Cotehele House and Harewood House, Calstock. The battle was hard fought and lasted all day. The Royalists prevented the Parliamentarians from advancing further into Cornwall, at a cost of 200 casualties and many taken prisoner. The Parliamentarians lost about 40 men.[2][3][4]

Aftermath

Main article: Battle of Lostwithiel

After the battle both sides continued to defend their ends of the bridge. Lord Essex travelled north to Launceston, leaving half of his troops defending New Bridge. He then regrouped with his other forces based in the northern half of the Tamar Valley. On the 26th of July Essex crossed the Tamar at Horsebridge, penetrating the Royalist defences and continuing into the heart of Cornwall. This advance culminated in the Battle of Lostwithiel, a disastrous defeat for the Parliamentarians.

See also

References

  1. ^ Discovering the River Tamar, Chapter 7
  2. ^ Royal Institution of Cornwall English Civil War and Captain Southcote pg 32
  3. ^ Gunnislake history
  4. ^ Gunnislake New Bridge History

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gunnislake New Bridge.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Gunnislake_New_Bridge&oldid=1199003228"