After the defeat of the Royalist forces in the North, he fled and his estates were confiscated by Parliament.

He returned in support of Charles II, but was slain at the Battle of Wigan Lane.

[5] The medieval tower house, Widdrington Castle, was described by John Leland, sited south of a brook about "half a mile" from the sea, with a view of Coquet Island.

Gerard Widdrington obtained a licence to crenellate, to build a castle, in 1341.

[6] James VI and I stayed at the castle on 8 April 1603 as a guest of Sir Robert Carey and his wife Elizabeth Trevanion.