The Siege of Lathom House 1644
Lathom House was the home of the James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby. In 1644 it was a Royalist stronghold. The house was surrounded by an 8-yard moat and a strong palisade.

A 6-foot thick wall defended the house with 9 towers (each with 6 cannon) and a strongly fortified gatehouse. A high tower (the 'Eagle Tower') stood in the centre.

While the Earl was in the Isle of Man rounding up an army to defend the island against a possible invasion by the Scots, his wife the Countess of Derby (Charlotte de la Trémouille) built up a garrison of 300 men to defend the house and plentiful supplies.

Charlotte, Countess of Derby
Feb 28 Sir Thomas Fairfax arrives and summons the House to surrender. The Countess requests a week to consider.

Fairfax leaves the siege to his cousin William Fairfax

 She spends this time strengthening the defenses and in the end rejects all the conditions offered stating that though "a woman and a stranger, divorced from her friends and robbed of her estate, she was ready to receive their utmost violence, trusting in God for protection and deliverance."
Mar 12 The bombardment begins.

The besieged make effective sallies to attack the Roundheads whose artillery proves inept and makes little effect on the walls.

 

 

 
Mar 24 William Fairfax then moves away and leaves the siege to Colonel Rigby. Rigby sends a summons for surrender to the Countess...who tells the messenger he should be hanged at the gate...
"Carry," said she, "this answer back to Rigby (tearing the paper), and tell that insolent rebel, he shall have neither persons, goods, nor house. When our strength and provisions are spent, we shall find a fire more merciful than Rigby; and then, if the providence of God prevent it not, my goods and house shall burn in his sight; and myself, children, and soldiers, rather than fall into his hands will seal our religion and loyalty in the same flames."

 

 
May 23 A final summons was sent to the Duchess.

She replied, "the mercies of the wicked are cruel," and that unless they treated with her lord, "they should never take her, nor any of her friends alive."

 
May 25 Prince Rupert arrives to relieve the siege. Rigby flees to Bolton and the Countess retires to the Isle of Man.

Artist's impression of Lathom House.
The heroic defence of Lathom House by the Countess of Derby earned her a place in the heroines of history.

The house was eventually taken by the Roundhead General Egerton on Dec 6th 1645 and was ruined.