1645 Great Britain Newark Besieged Lozenge Shaped Shilling – gVF & Rare

The Siege of Newark: Royalists, Roundheads and a Castle Under Fire

From Royal Favour to Ruin

Newark-on-Trent wasn’t always a battlefield. In fact, its early 17th-century fortunes bloomed under royal favour. King James I visited the town in 1612 and left thoroughly impressed, praising Newark for its hospitality and strategic importance. This favour didn’t go unnoticed—especially by a young Charles, James’s son, who would later ascend the throne as Charles I. Raised in the royal bubble, Charles learned early that Newark was not only valuable—it was loyal.

A Kingdom at War

By the 1640s, that loyalty would be tested to the breaking point. Charles I’s belief in the divine right of kings clashed violently with Parliament’s growing demand for power. Arguments turned into accusations, and by 1642, civil war erupted. England split down the middle—Royalists backed the king, while Parliamentarians, or Roundheads, rallied against him. Both sides claimed God, law, and common sense were on their side. Spoiler: it got messy.

Newark Picks a Side

As the war unfolded, Newark stood firmly with the king. Its geographical position was crucial—it controlled a major crossing over the River Trent and key roads linking north, south, east and west. Simply put, whoever held Newark could move troops, guns and messages far more easily than their opponent. That alone made it worth fighting for. But Newark wasn’t just important on a map. Its proud Royalist citizens welcomed Charles when he arrived in person in 1642. Their loyalty wasn’t just military—it was personal.

Three Sieges and a Stubborn Defence

Newark endured three sieges during the civil war. The first, in February 1643, ended in a swift Royalist victory. Parliament had underestimated the town’s defences—and its spirit. The second, in early 1644, brought Scottish forces into the fray. This time, the siege lasted longer, but still, the defenders held out.

However, by 1645, fortunes had shifted. Parliament’s New Model Army, led by the indomitable Oliver Cromwell, had become a formidable force. Although Cromwell didn’t lead the final siege directly, his military reforms and victories elsewhere had turned the tide. The third siege of Newark, beginning in late 1645, dragged on through hunger, disease, and bombardment. Yet again, Newark refused to yield.

Betrayed by a King

In the end, it wasn’t Cromwell or cannon fire that brought Newark down—it was Charles himself. In April 1646, he surrendered to the Scottish army near Newark, hoping for better terms than Parliament might offer. Shortly after, he ordered the town to surrender as a gesture of goodwill. After all its sacrifices, Newark’s fate was sealed not by force, but by royal command. Awkward, to say the least.

A Legacy of Loyalty

Today, Newark Castle stands in romantic ruin, scarred by history but proud nonetheless. It remains a symbol of loyalty, resilience, and a town that backed its king to the bitter, somewhat anticlimactic, end.

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