The English Civil War divided the inhabitants of Great Britain into two major camps—one fighting for Parliament, the other believing the country should be ruled by the King. The conflict resulted in a massive death toll, higher than the combined losses of the First and Second World Wars. In June 1644, the war arrived in Liverpool, and a large-scale battle unfolded throughout the town. Get the full story on liverpoolyes.com.
The Causes
Charles I ascended the throne in 1625. He genuinely considered himself God’s representative on earth and believed in the exceptional nature of royal authority, leading him to rule independently without Parliament. Furthermore, he provoked Parliament’s outrage by marrying a French Queen who practised Catholicism. Members of Parliament were deeply unhappy, as, being Protestants, they wished to see a Protestant Queen on the throne. Moreover, most members of Parliament were strict Puritans, and they were irritated by the lavish wedding ceremonies of Catholics.
The King had countless disagreements with Parliament, which sought to increase its control and limit the monarch’s power. Citizens were also unhappy with the King—Parliament had withheld funds from him, forcing the King to introduce new taxes that the residents absolutely despised.
The Outbreak of War
In January 1642, the King stormed the House of Commons with soldiers to arrest several Members of Parliament he accused of treason. However, they had been forewarned and managed to escape. A few months later, the Civil War began.
Fighting ensued between the supporters of absolute monarchy (known as ‘Cavaliers’) and those who favoured Parliamentary rule (the ‘Roundheads’). The former mainly originated from the north of the country, and the latter from the south.
Parliament’s supporters increasingly gained the upper hand, largely thanks to General Cromwell, who created an entirely new army model—commanders were appointed based not on noble birth, as was traditional, but on genuine military skills. As a result, Charles I surrendered to Parliament in 1646, and Parliament condemned the King to execution in 1649.
War Approaches Liverpool
At the start of the war, Liverpool was controlled by supporters of the monarchy, as the noble families of Stanley and Molyneux, who ruled the region, had close ties to the royal family.
Stanley’s army was based in Childwall, where they prepared for the anticipated attack by Parliament’s forces. Since the Parliamentary army was approaching Liverpool from the direction of Manchester, Childwall provided an ideal vantage point for spotting the advancing army early. Although historical records lack explicit documentation, it is widely believed that the most significant battle of the Civil War in the region took place in Childwall. Battle swords and cannonballs have since been found here and are now exhibited in the Museum of Liverpool, and a spot near All Saints Church is known as “Bloody Field.” It is thought that the battle occurred precisely there. Many people are convinced that ghosts haunt this part of the city.
In any case, regardless of what happened in that district of Liverpool, the Royalists failed to stop the Parliamentary army. The ‘Roundhead’ troops captured the town and set up defences. The King’s supporters were forced to flee but had no intention of surrendering.
Prince Rupert in Liverpool
The leader of the Royalist supporters was Prince Rupert—an ambitious, brave, and audacious young man from Germany. He arrived in Liverpool with an army consisting of 10,000 soldiers—a massive force! For comparison, the entire population of Liverpool at the time was just over 2,000 people. He also brought his beloved pets: a monkey and a dog, about whom astonishing rumours circulated. It was said the monkey could turn invisible to spy on enemies, and the dog was capable of finding buried treasure and catching bullets in its teeth. These animals were frequently written about in the newspapers of the era.
In the summer of 1644, Rupert moved his army to Lime Street, which allowed him to observe the ‘Roundheads’ who occupied Liverpool Castle. He, along with his animals, resided in a house on Everton Hill. This is very close to where Everton Beacon—today known as Prince Rupert’s Tower—is located.
After numerous bloody battles, the Prince decided on a night assault, which ended in victory—Rupert’s army successfully captured the castle. The Prince ordered it to be demolished and the town to be burnt. Rupert’s men stole a large quantity of gold, treasures, and the original seal of King John. A huge portion of the stolen goods was hidden in the tunnels located beneath the Everton district. These tunnels survive to this day, and rumours persist that the treasures still lie somewhere in their depths. Unfortunately, Liverpool Castle was never rebuilt and was pulled down about half a century after the siege. However, it played its final role in the town’s destiny—the building’s bricks were used to construct the first dock.
Rupert’s triumph was just one battle won. The Civil War in Great Britain ended with a complete victory for the Parliamentary side. This paved the way for the turbulent Industrial Revolution and the capitalist development of both Liverpool and the entire country.