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| Dartmouth | ||
| At the outbreak of the Civil War, Dartmouth declares for
Parliament and builds defences - roads are blocked, castles armed, guns
placed on church towers and even a large chain placed across the
harbour's mouth.
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| 1643 Oct 4 |
After a month's siege by the Royalists, the town falls to Prince Maurice advancing down the Weeke valley to the south and west. A number of Parliamentary ships in the harbour were also captured. | |
| For the next three years, the Royalists hold the town and improve the defences. New fortified earthworks are built (Gallants Bower, Mount Ridley) | ||
| 1646 Jan 18 |
The Royalist garrison numbers 2,500 men. Fairfax has
accurate information about the town's defences from local people and
attacks from the north until...
"the enemy was beaten out of all except the great fort on the east side of the river called Kingswear Fort, and the castle with the fort which lay over the castle at the mouth of the harbour called Gallants Bower, to which last the Governor ... and as many as escaped us, fled." Fairfax now mounts his guns on the north side of Warfleet Creek within range of the castle.
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| Jan 19 | Nearly 1000 Royalist soldiers shelter in the castle and in Gallants Bower earthworks, but they all surrender to Fairfax, handing over their arms ammunition and food stores in exchange for their lives. | Many years later one soldier told of how, as a result of lying on bare ground on top of Gallants Bower that freezing January night, he had to have his hand amputated because of frostbite. |
| Fairfax moves north-west to find Hopton. | ||
