1643 1644 1645 1646 The Siege of Bridgwater took place in July 1645, during the First English Civil War, when a Royalist garrison surrendered to a Parliamentarian force under Sir Thomas Fairfax.

The capture of Bridgwater meant Parliamentarian forces controlled a line of forts from the Bristol to the English Channels, isolating the Royalist West Country from the rest of England.

Large parts of the West Country were controlled by Clubmen, local militia groups set up to resist depredations from either side, which were often a greater threat than the Royalists.

Regardless of political allegiance, the main objective for these groups was to end the war, and Fairfax persuaded their leaders withholding support from the Royalists was the quickest way to achieve this.

Massey cleared Royalist outposts at Hamp, giving him control of the high ground to the south, while a naval blockade prevented the garrison from being resupplied from the sea.

The main defences were on the western bank of the Parrett, including Bridgwater Castle; abandoned in the mid-16th century, its outer walls remained formidable, but were not designed to resist modern artillery.

[10] A night attack from the northern side was attempted on 14 July, but abandoned after the storm parties discovered the water in the moat was too deep for the scaling ladders to reach the walls.

The east gate was quickly seized and opened, allowing the main Parliamentarian force to enter; by midday, they had taken 600 prisoners, and the Royalists held only the western half of the town.