Royalist Newark, 1642-1646: Sieges and Siege Works

During the English Civil War, Newark held immense strategic value as a crossing over the River Trent before the Humber estuary. Dubbed the ‘Key to the North’, it stands at the intersection of two major highways. This new military history, incorporating fresh research, marks the town's first comprehensive account in a century.

The Duke of Newcastle sent Sir John Henderson, an experienced soldier, with 4,000 Horse to secure the town for the King in December 1642 and turn the town into a secure...