News

Stow-on-the-Wold remembers the final battle of the Civil War

23 March 2024

Members of the Stow and District Civic Society gathered early on 21 March at the memorial headstone at St. Edward’s Church to mark the anniversary of the battle of Stow-on-the-Wold on that day in 1646.

A short service was conducted by Rev. Karen Wellman and daffodils were placed at both the memorial and the market cross reflecting the origins of many of the royalist soldiers recruited at that time from the Welsh Marches.

The battle, the last of the first Civil War (1642-46), saw the royalists make a final stand in the market square before their commander, Jacob Lord Astley, surrendered near the market cross. 

Over 1500 Royalist soldiers were imprisoned in the church overnight and were subsequently taken to Gloucester. 

Battlefields Trust joint Mercia region chair, Simon Marsh, said 'it is fantatstic to see local communities embrace their battlefield heritage and commemorate battles like Stow-on-the-Wold on their anniversary'.

'The Civic Society in Stow has always been very supportive of Battlefields Trust effors to research the battle and present its findings to local people', he added.

Photo: Mike Schoen