page_title: Battle of Burton Bridge (1643)
section_title: Battle
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Burton Bridge (1643) / Battle
caption_attribution_description: English: Sir Thomas Tyldesley
context_page_description: The Battle of Burton Bridge was fought between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces at Burton upon Trent on 4 July 1643 during the First English Civil War. By the time of the battle, the town, which had at various times been held by both sides, was garrisoned by a Parliamentarian unit under the command of Captain Thomas Sanders and the town's military governor, Colonel Richard Houghton. The key river crossing at Burton was desired by Queen Henrietta Maria, who was proceeding southwards from Yorkshire with a convoy of supplies destined for King Charles I at Oxford. The Royalists, led by Colonel Thomas Tyldesley, launched a cavalry charge across the bridge which succeeded in defeating the Parliamentarians and capturing most of their officers, including Sanders and Houghton. The Queen's convoy proceeded on its way south to Oxford with Tyldesley receiving a knighthood and a promotion in recognition of his victory. Burton changed hands several more times during the course of the war, before finally coming into Parliament's control in 1646.
context_section_description: Gell's garrison at Burton was commanded by Captain Thomas Sanders, who had previously commanded one of the largest companies in Gell's force. Sanders held more radical political views than Gell and was seen as a potential rival. Sanders may have been concerned that his deployment to such a precarious position was a plot by Gell to be rid of him. Whatever the case Sanders decided to remove himself from Gell's command and place him and his men under the direction of Colonel Richard Houghton, of the Staffordshire county committee and military governor of Burton.
  In July 1643 the Queen's convoy and its guard advanced from Newark to Ashby-de-la-Zouch and then to Burton. Gell summoned the Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire associations forces to defend the town but they refused to muster for him. On 4 July 1643 the Roylist cavalry, led by Colonel Thomas Tyldesley, charged across Burton Bridge and engaged Sanders' men. The engagement was described as "bloody" and "desperate" and, though damage was caused to the town's St Modwen's church, the battle seems to have been decided by the action at the bridge. The forces of parliament were decisively beaten and, according to Gell, the town was "most miserably plundered and destroyed". Henrietta Maria herself recorded that so much loot was taken that her men "could not well march with their bundles".
  The Royalists claimed that they had twice requested the surrender of the town before they attacked and that the Queen forbade any violence against the townsfolk. Conversely the parliamentarians claimed that 30 of their men were forced into the church and offered to surrender but were refused and were killed by cavaliers in the night. The Royalists were also alleged to have looted the town and raped women before drowning at least 20 civilians in the river. The Royalists took most of the Roundhead officers prisoner including Captain Sanders and Colonel Houghton (and his wife).  Sanders was later exchanged and was promoted to Major by the Earl of Essex and commissioned by Gell to act as Colonel and to raise a regiment of horse.  Tyldesley was knighted and promoted to brigadier-general for bravery shown in the action.
caption: Sir Thomas Tyldesley
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