| Battle of Burton Bridge | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the First English Civil War | |||||||
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Burton_Bridge_pre-1863.jpg) An early photograph of the medieval Burton Bridge looking from the town (Parliamentarian) side of the river | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Royalists | Parliamentarians | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Henrietta Maria Thomas Tyldesley |
Richard Houghton (POW) Thomas Sanders (POW) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown |
200 infantry 60 dragoons 1 cannon | ||||||
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Staffordshire_UK_relief_location_map.jpg)
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 under Parliamentarian control in 1646.