The English Civil War in Cheshire

Over the winter, I have been revisiting my interest in the British Civil Wars of the 17th century.   Gunpowder, radicalism, and lacework, it has everything.

The usual description given to this period is the English Civil War, which implies something unique, definite, or confined to England, which doesn't really cover the situation but is so well know it can't really be avoided.

Some of the guys at SSWG were starting to paint up figures for this period, so I jumped on the project with them.  We have all picked a bit of a theme for our forces and mine will concentrate on the battles in and around Cheshire, Lancashire and the Welsh Marches.  

I'm an Essex boy now but Cheshire is my former stomping ground, so I'm aiming to do both sides for the battle of Nantwich in January 1644.  I'll probably try to make things a bit generic, and the unknowns allow some wiggle room, so I can cover several of the other battles in the region too. 

My sympathies lie more with the Parliamentarians these days so I have started with the Cheshire forces of Sir William Brereton.   

Later I will add the Yorkshire and Lancashire troops under 'Black Tom' Fairfax that marched to relieve the siege of Nantwich in the depths of winter 1644.  

The Royalists opposing them were mostly English troops from the garrison of Ireland, under command of that 'Bloody Braggaddoccio' Lord Byron.

In preparation I have reading More Like Lions than Men by Andrew Abram and The King's Irish by John Barratt.  Both are excellent, with loads of detail on the units and campaign.  

For background inspiration I have been re-watching By the Sword Divided and The Devil's Whore.

I even manage to squeeze in a visit to Nantwich for this year's Holly Holy Day battle reenactment.

Actually painted figures and more discussion of building the armies to follow...