Sir William Bereton

[Chesh]

Does anyone know much about Sir William Bereton.

He seems to be Parliament's leading man in Cheshire, and commanded their forces during the 1st Battle of Middlewich. Reason I ask is because it seems to be that he was garrisoned at some points in Northwich which is the town next to the village where my parents lived and I grew up through the majority of my childhood. I have been trying to come up with a local connection for baseing my forces on ( thought about trying to find out the troops who defended Birmingham <where I now live> against Rupert but like this better).

I have read through wikipedia and a couple of other pages on Sir William and the battle at Middlewich (most pages seem to say the same things) but wondered if anyone knows much or can point me in the right direction regarding Parliaments troops in Cheshire (Vale Royal really) or even an order of battle for Middlewich.

edit: oh and of course Northwich has Winnington Bridge also (staggered over it a many times worst for wear!) which is considered to be where the last battle of the Civil War took place in 1659.

[BigMike]

Not sure, but on the subject of Cheshire ECW history Beeston Castle is well worth a visit. Heroic Royalist firelocks and all that! If you want to do some other historical research i can suggest and excellent pub near Brereton and a nice stroll to walk it off!

[Chesh]

I used to go running in and aroun the grounds of Beeston Castle when I worked in a pub a couple of miles away. We lived that side of Northwich on the way to Chester.

[BigMike]

I lived the other side of Northwich just over the motorway and pretty close to Brereton itself.

[Chesh]

Small small world! Hence my username......shortened version of the county and a nickname I was given many years ago

[Ubique matt]

Hi Chesh,

Here's a few links you may find of interest.

http://www.edu.dudley.gov.uk/gisweb/gallery/History/Dudley_Town_Trail/Civil%20War.pdf

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/brereton.htm

Regards,
Matt

[Chesh]

Thanks Matt

[red]

It does indeed seem to be a small world.
I'm from Altringham originally, currently stuck west of the border.
One of the lads at our club used to work at Beeston castle and we played a version of the Battle of Middlewich during last year's campaign.
Link

[1642]

Middlewich is a very interesting little battle with very deailed reports written by various Royalist Captains supporting Sir Thomas Astons account that it was the failing of others.

The Welsh infantry of Col. Robert Ellice were almost all captured.

A plan of the battle was drawn up by Aston which I so far have not come across in any book,

[Chesh]

All very very interesting stuff guys - thanks a lot!