Battle Archaeology

The greater part of the archaeology of the battle will be in the form of lead bullets scattered across the landscape from the intense infantry firefights through the hedged enclosures. There has been no study of this evidence, but if it were to be surveyed by systematic, well recorded archaeological survey then the distribution patterns of different calibre and type of shot could answer many of the questions that remain as to exactly where and how each element of the battle was fought. 

Nantwich is however unusual among English battlefields in having extensive but very different archaeological evidence of the action. The parliamentarian assault involved a fierce attack on royalist troops in Acton itself and particularly around the church. The building preserves a remarkable record of the intense fighting, being peppered with shot impact scars where lead bullets impacted on the church walls. Such evidence, which is far more common on siege sites of the 17th century, provides a very visible and immediate connection with the events of the 25th January 1644. A detailed study has never been made of these impact scars but, if adequately recorded, they may cast interesting additional light on the nature of the fighting.

 

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