This Day in History: 1648-09-09

Royalist, Captain Thomas Paulden, noted that on 9th September 1648 ‘ the Enemie marched quietly into the towne…the same day they brought downe some foote w’thin Carabin shott of the Castle & there made a Baricade, & planted 3 foote Colours & brought a horse guard vpon the south-west side of ye Castle, & placed them vpon Bag-hill.’ This dates the start of the castle’s third and final siege, three weeks after Crowell’s overwhelming victory at the Battle of Preston thereby releasing his time and energy and Parliamentary forces to ‘deal’ with the problem of Pontefract Castle.