User:Pax Brittanica/sandbox/Siege of Manchester

The Siege of Manchester was amongst the first clashes of the English Civil War.

Siege of Manchester
Part of The First English Civil War

Ford Madox Brown's 19th-century mural of the Siege of Manchester, displayed in Manchester Town Hall[a]
Date24 September - 1 October 1642
Location53°29′05″N 02°14′15″W / 53.48472°N 2.23750°W / 53.48472; -2.23750
Result Parliamentarian victory
Belligerents
Royalists Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Lord Strange
Lord Molyneux
Sir Gilbert Hoghton
John Rosworm
Richard Radcliffe
Ralph Assheton
Strength
4,000 Infantry
300 Cavalry
1,000 Soldiers
Casualties and losses
100 - 250 killed
80 captured
19 killed
Pax Brittanica/sandbox/Siege of Manchester is located in Greater Manchester
Pax Brittanica/sandbox/Siege of Manchester
Location of the battle within Greater Manchester

Prelude

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Wiped

Siege

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On 24 September 1642, news reached Manchester that Lord Strange had mustered his troops, numbering 3000 - 4000 men, and 6 - 7 cannons, in Warrington, and was on the march towards the town.[2][3] Rosworme set up provisional fortifications, such as posts and chains, to keep out the enemy horse, and mud barricades at the ends of streets.[4] The Royalists arrived the following day. One division remained north of the River Irwell and occupied Salford, whilst Strange marched the remainder to Manchester through Alport Lane.

 
Map of Manchester c. 1650

Upon arrival, Strange conferred with two envoys, promising to respect life and property if entrance was granted. The demand was ultimately refused. On the Monday morning, Strange sent another demand, requesting all arms be delivered up, and quarter spared for his horse troop. The townspeople replied that this was forbidden by the protestations and by Ordinance of Parliament. The royalists batteries at Alport Lodge began firing at the town around midday, answered by musket fire from roundheads stationed in the churchyard. The cannons performing little damage except to the houses, which were greatly damaged and later plundered. The Royalists then proceeded to attack Deansgate in close quarters, setting buildings alight.[2][5][6]

Fiction and media

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In 1965, director Herbert Wise directed an episode named The Siege of Manchester for Theatre 625.[7] The drama impressed Stanley Kubrick, who at the time was shooting 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrick requested Wise bring a copy of the drama to his house, so as to learn how to get strong performances out of his actors.[8][9]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Ford Madox Brown mural depicting the siege erroneously credits the defence to John Bradshaw, whereas in reality it was commanded by John Rosworm.[1]

Citations

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  1. ^ "Town Hall murals by Ford Madox Brown". Manchester City Council. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b Broxap, Ernest (1910). The Great Civil War in Lancashire (1642-1651). The Manchester University Press. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. ^ Baines, Thomas (1852). History of the Commerce and Town of Liverpool: And of the Rise of the Manufacturing Industry in the Adjoining Counties. Vol. 1. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. pp. 302–306.
  4. ^ Vetch, Robert Hamilton (1897). "Rosworme, John" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 291–293.
  5. ^ Axon, William (1886). The Annals of Manchester: A Chronological Record from the Earliest Times to the End of 1885. J. Heywood, Deansgate and Ridgefield. pp. 53–56.
  6. ^ Plaque #752 on Open Plaques
  7. ^ Roberts, Jerry (5 June 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 627. ISBN 978-0810863781.
  8. ^ Farquhar, Simon (17 August 2015). "Herbert Wise: Director of innovative television drama, including 'Z Cars', 'The Verdict Is Yours' and, most memorably, 'I, Claudius'". The Independent. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ^ Wise, Herbert. "Visual History with Herbert Wise". Directors Guild of America (Interview). Interviewed by Mike Newell. Retrieved 27 January 2021.