Tarvin in the English Civil War

During the first English Civil War, Tarvin, a village in Cheshire England was garrisoned by both sides and was attacked by both sides, because its proximity to Chester which was a major Royalist (Cavalier) port city, made it strategically important. Tarvin changed hands several times; initially it was garrisoned by Parliament and troops of both sides at different times were quartered in and around the village, which was not fortified. In September 1644 the Parliamentarians (Roundheads) fortified the village and garrisoned the place with sufficient troops to withstand a large attack and it remained in their hands until the end of the war.

On Sunday 12 November 1643, Royalists sallied out of Chester towards Tarvin — which was garrisoned by Parliament under the command of Captain Gerard — but the Royalists were intercepted at Stamford Bridge and prevented from crossing it. The two sides skirmished all the afternoon but then Parliamentary reinforcements from Cholmondeley arrived to assist Gerard and they drove the Royalists back, following them to Boughton, Cheshire and into Gorse Stacks on the outskirts of Chester, where they killed some of them. The Parliamentarians' only casualty was one man wounded.

In late January 1644, some Parliamentary forces billeted in and about Tarvin were taken by surprise in an attack by the Chester Royalists. Some were wounded, and others were taken prisoner but as the Royalists returned to Chester with their captives, they were overtaken by a company of Parliamentary dragoons. In the melee that followed a Royalist captain and some of his men were killed, while others were wounded. The dragoons freed the prisoners and took eight of their own, all of whom were sent to Nantwich.

On Sunday 18 August 1644, Colonel Marrow marched from Chester with a detachment of foot (infantry) and horse (cavalry) towards Northwich, and on the way they took cattle without paying for them. When Morrow's scouts approached Hartford Green, a party of soldiers from the garrison sallied out to chase them off, but the Parliamentary soldiers got too close to the main body. A skirmish ensued at Sandyway. The Royalists won the day taking fifteen prisoners, but Colonel Marrow was mortally wounded and died the next day in Chester. After the skirmish it seems that the Royalist detachment made for Tarvin, because two days later (Tuesday 20 August) a party of Parliamentarians from Nantwich with the assistance of Sir William Brereton's horse and reinforcements from Halton Castle attacked the Royalists quartered at Tarvin and for the fifteen prisoners they lost two days earlier taking between 200 and 300 horses, capturing 45 prisoners and killing 15, all for the loss of only one man.

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