The Second Battle of Evesham
The marks of musket fire are still visible on the Bell Tower
The fortunes of the Civil War fluctuated around Worcestershire throughout 1644. There were substantial Royalist forces in the area, and a Royalist garrison at Evesham. But neither side was willing to have a serious fight.
Some Parliamentarians under Colonel Edward Massey, the head of the forces in Gloucester, approached Evesham in April and the Royalist garrison simply "quitted". In July, some Parliamentary forces under (Colonel Thomas Archer) came from Alcester, occupied Evesham for a night, and then withdrew for lack of reinforcements. Massey complained in November that his forces were not enough to hold the town.
The pace picked up in April 1645, when more troops, from Northampton, Aylesbury, Coventry and elsewhere mustered at Warwick to wait for Massey.
Meanwhile the Royalist army - with the King - had gathered at Evesham and the Vale. Then, on 10 May, the force, including most of the Evesham garrison moved out to Inkberrow, then Droitwich -and eventually on to Naseby.
Massey left Gloucester on 23 May, and met with the other forces at Tewkesbury. He now had about 1500 footmen and 800 horse.
The remains of the Evesham garrison comprised about 550 men strong, under Colonel Robert Legge, assembled from various former units. Although there were other Royalist troops in Worcester, they did not help Col. Legge.
Colonel Edward Massey
By 25 May, Massey had come via Pershore and Fladbury, while hit tropps crossed the river at Twyford, and they assembled on Greenhill, with some at Bengeworth. Legge refused and offer to surrender.
The attack came at dawn on the 26th, at five points along the line at Greenhill. After fierce fighting against "a storm of fire and leaden hail" Massey's troopers made a breach in the ramparts on the western flank and the Parliamentary Horse came into town. The Royalists rallied to defend here, allowing the other troops to cross Bengeworth Bridge into Abbey Park. The garrison was pushed back down the meadows against the river and surrendered. The whole battle lasted about an hour.
The attack came at dawn on the 26th, at five points along the line at Greenhill. After fierce fighting against "a storm of fire and leaden hail" Massey's troopers made a breach in the ramparts on the western flank and the Parliamentary Horse came into town. The Royalists rallied to defend here, allowing the other troops to cross Bengeworth Bridge into Abbey Park. The garrison was pushed back down the meadows against the river and surrendered. Virtually the whole garrisons was taken prisoner.
The whole battle lasted about an hour. Casualties were few - up to 24 killed altogether.
Massey departed on 1 June and the Parliamentarians acted to form their own garrison, fearful that the Royalists would return in force (they had recently captured Leicester). The new garrison - about 500 men under Colonel Edward Rous - now looked towards the parliamentarians at Warwick rather than the Royalists at Worcester. The burden of supporting a garrison, on the folk of the town and the Vale, continued unabated.
Edward Massey later changed to the Royalist side and fought with King Charles at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He was elected to Parliament, and was knighted at the restoration in 1660.