Growing up in Southam, a piece of local lore I'm familiar with is that the English Civil War began not at Edge Hill on 23 October 1642, but at Southam on 23 August, where there was a 'skirmish' in which some soldiers died.
Sitting at home on a grey, wet, windy day, decided to do a bit of digging and learn a little about this.
COVENTRY
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| Charles I |
By 1642, the English parliament had decided that it should have the final say when it came to law-making and big decisions of state, not the king. King Charles I, on the other hand, believed that he should have the final say on everything, and absolutely not accept any limitation on his royal prerogative by parliament. They argued, and on 12 August 1642 the king sent out a proclamation that his supporters should take up arms and assemble with him at Nottingham. He had effectively declared war on his own parliament.
While he was riding through Warwickshire, Charles I learnt that parliamentary forces were intending to occupy Coventry, so he decided to occupy the town first himself.
With cavalry, ground troops and cannon, he succeeded in blasting down the gates of the town on 18 August, but the garrison and citizens of the town barricaded the streets so effectively that the Royalists could not force their way in. The king's brutal actions helped alienate him from the citizens of the town, who were subsequently strongly pro-parliament. There were a number of deaths during this siege, both civilian and military. [1, 2]
SOUTHAM
A second attack on Coventry by royalist forces was feared, so measures to defend the town were begun under the command of Lord Brook of Warwick. First of all he headed for his home town to make sure it was safe, as well as collect ammunition from his stores in the castle. He passed through Southam (22 August) on the way, intending to rest there, but before his troops had bedded down news came that royalist forces were indeed in the region, and were intending on blockading roads to the north (at 'Dunsmore'), only a couple of miles away. [1]
In the dark, Brook roused his men and "led [them] up to the top of a hill ... and so lodged all that night in a field not far from the town". The Royalists appeared in the morning, and by 8 a.m. (23 August) there was a stand-off, with hundreds of men on both sides lined up in battle formation. [1]
Brook
Brook was the first to order his troops to open fire, using cannon to cut down a section of the Royalist cavalry ... "five horses [later] being found slaine, and the legs and arms of some of their riders". He then turned his fire on the infantry with similar devastating effect. The Royalists returned fire, but failed to inflict any injury (although the author in this source is strongly anti-Royalist, so may be not entirely truthful). In further skirmishing "a [Royalist] drummer and two others [were] slaine, and 'twas probably supposed many other", "There were some nine prisoners taken in all, and about forty found slaine". There are mentions of royalist bodies being carried away and disposed of in a river. (It was also rumoured that Charles I and his champion, Prince Rupert, were with the royalist forces at Southam, but fled when they realised they were losing, however, this may be complete fiction.) [1]
The parish register records a single burial:
John Brown alias Pisely Souldier Under Captain Jones in ye Regiment of Robt Lord Brook. Aug. 23. The same day the Battle was fought Between Lord Brooke and ye Earle of Northampton. [5]
Where was the battle? A cannon ball, possibly from this conflict, was dug up in a garden on the north side of Southam in 1970. If Royalist troops were indeed in the Dunsmoor area, then perhaps the action took place on the "hill" which is now the cement works quarry north of the town. [4] However, Francis Smith, writing in 1825, states that the battle was on the south-west side, between Southam and Bishop's Itchington, but also that skeletons, possibly from the battle, were found at 'Southam Grounds', which Victorian maps call the area immediately to the east of Southam ('Southam Fields' on more recent maps). [6]
(There's an additional tale to be told about Francis Holyoake, vicar of Southam at the time. His is said to have been a staunch royalist, in spite of the town being generally pro-parliament. Brook detained him and searched his house, allegedly finding ammunition. I'll may research that story another day.)
EDGE HILL
Having only a small cavalry section, Brook could not pursue the fleeing royalists, but he did seize their abandoned cannon. He and his forces stayed in Southam that night, marching to Coventry the next morning, where they were welcomed. [1]
Throughout England at this time, local royalist and parliamentarian forces were jockeying for position, occupying this or that town or castle by goodwill, agreement or force, until 23 October, when the first major pitched battle took place at Edge Hill. Five hundred died there, but with neither side being able to claim victory. The bloody English Civil War had began. [3].
CONCLUSION
In the sense of a battle in open ground, Southam seems to have a fair claim to be the first recorded battle of the English Civil War, although those involved in the siege of Coventry might argue. However, sources mention local trouble throughout the country at this time. It may be that some other town or village has an equal or better claim. Southam, by chance, just happens to have the best record.
So, was the Battle of Southam the first action in the English Civil War? Yes, ignorning Coventry and any other local scraps around the country.
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