Introduction
The Siege of Newcastle in 1644 was one of the most dramatic and significant episodes of the First English Civil War (1642–1646). Taking place between February and October of that year, the siege marked the culmination of years of tension between Royalist forces loyal to King Charles I and Parliamentarian factions seeking greater control over the monarchy. The Scottish Covenanters, allied with the English Parliament through the Solemn League and Covenant, played a key role in the siege and eventual capture of the Royalist stronghold.
Newcastle upon Tyne, a wealthy and strategically critical city, was vital to the Royalist war effort. Its surrender in October 1644 not only handed Parliament control of the North East but also disrupted the Royalist coal trade and weakened the king’s ability to fund his forces. The siege is remembered not just for its military significance but for the way it revealed deep political, religious, and regional divisions in mid-17th-century Britain.
Strategic Importance of Newcastle
Newcastle’s importance during the Civil War cannot be overstated. By the early 1640s, the city was one of the key suppliers of coal to London and southern England. Control of this coal meant control of fuel and industry, as well as the ability to fund armies.
It was also a crucial port city, allowing the Royalists to receive supplies and maintain maritime links with supporters in Europe. Militarily, Newcastle served as a northern stronghold and a base from which Royalist forces could counter Parliamentarian operations in Yorkshire and the Scottish borders.
Furthermore, the city was heavily fortified, with stone walls and gates constructed in the medieval period. This made it difficult to breach and ideal as a defensive bastion.
Background: The Road to Siege
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, Newcastle declared for King Charles I. Its Royalist allegiance was due to both civic loyalty and economic interest, especially the preservation of the Newcastle coal monopoly.
In 1643, Parliament, facing heavy military pressure from Royalist forces, negotiated the Solemn League and Covenant with the Scottish Covenanters. In exchange for agreeing to a Presbyterian settlement of religion in England, the Scots promised to invade the north of England and aid the Parliamentarian cause.
In early 1644, a Scottish army of over 20,000 men under the command of Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven, crossed the River Tweed and began pushing south. Their aim was to seize key northern cities—Newcastle being chief among them. The Royalist Marquess of Newcastle, William Cavendish, had earlier left to assist the king in York, leaving the city under the command of Sir John Marlay, the Royalist mayor and military governor of Newcastle.
The Siege Begins
Initial Movements
The siege began in February 1644, though full encirclement and sustained military operations would not occur until the summer. Leven’s Scottish Covenanter army gradually surrounded the city. However, the defences were formidable, and Marlay had prepared well. The medieval walls, built to defend against Scottish raids, were put to their original purpose once again.
The Covenanters initially attempted to storm the city’s suburbs, engaging in several minor battles and skirmishes. The towns of Gateshead and South Shields fell quickly to the invaders, as did surrounding fortifications and smaller outposts. However, the heart of Newcastle remained in Royalist hands.
The Battle of Marston Moor
The siege of Newcastle cannot be viewed in isolation. Its fate was closely tied to the broader campaign in the north, particularly the Battle of Marston Moor, which took place near York on 2 July 1644.
At Marston Moor, the combined forces of the Parliamentarians, the Scottish Covenanters, and the Eastern Association Army under Oliver Cromwell and Lord Fairfax decisively defeated the Royalist army, including the forces of Prince Rupert and the Marquess of Newcastle.
This battle was a catastrophe for the Royalists, destroying their strongest army in the north and ensuring that Parliament would dominate northern England. With the Royalists routed, Leven was free to focus entirely on Newcastle.
The Final Siege and Assault
After Marston Moor, Leven returned with his entire army and resumed the full siege of Newcastle. In August 1644, he tightened the encirclement and began heavy bombardments. Cannons were placed strategically, and siege works—including trenches and saps—were dug to weaken the walls.
Sir John Marlay refused to surrender, despite being heavily outnumbered and lacking any realistic hope of reinforcements. The city withstood bombardments and several minor assaults through the summer.
Finally, in October 1644, the Covenanters launched a full-scale assault. Using mines to breach the medieval walls near the West Gate, they created a gap and rushed their troops in. After bitter house-to-house fighting, the Royalist defenders were forced to retreat into the castle keep.
Even then, Marlay and his garrison held out for a few more days. Eventually, with no food, little ammunition, and no chance of rescue, the castle surrendered on 27 October 1644.
Aftermath
The fall of Newcastle was a massive blow to the Royalists. The capture gave Parliament full control of the Tyne, cutting off vital coal supplies to Royalist-held London. It also deprived the king of a major recruiting ground and staging post for operations in Scotland and northern England.
Sir John Marlay was imprisoned but later escaped and fled abroad. His properties were confiscated, and his political career in England was over.
Newcastle itself was placed under the control of the Scottish army, who occupied it until 1647. During this time, they also held King Charles I prisoner after he surrendered to the Scots in 1646. He was held in Newcastle for several months before being handed over to the English Parliament.
Economically and socially, the city suffered. Trade was disrupted, buildings were damaged, and many of the city’s elite were either displaced or impoverished. However, Newcastle’s resilience ensured its recovery over the following decades.
Legacy and Historical Significance
The Siege of Newcastle holds a crucial place in English Civil War history for several reasons:
- Strategic Loss for Royalists: The fall of Newcastle marked the effective end of Royalist dominance in the North East. Without coal revenues and a secure northern stronghold, the Royalist war effort was fatally weakened.
- Covenanter Contribution: The siege underscored the importance of Scottish involvement in the Civil War. Without the Covenanters, Parliament would likely have struggled to defeat Royalist forces in the north.
- Civic Resistance: The determined resistance of Sir John Marlay and the citizens of Newcastle became a powerful symbol of local Royalist loyalty. Though ultimately unsuccessful, their stand was widely admired—even by opponents.
- Urban Warfare: The siege revealed the increasing effectiveness of modern siege techniques, including the use of mining, cannon bombardment, and formal trench systems. Newcastle was one of the last major English cities to endure a classical-style siege.
Conclusion
The Siege of Newcastle in 1644 was more than just a military encounter—it was a transformative moment in the Civil War and in the history of the North East. The fall of this proud Royalist city signalled the waning fortunes of King Charles I and the increasing ascendancy of Parliament and its allies.
The scars of the siege remained visible in Newcastle for years: in its damaged walls, disrupted commerce, and transformed political allegiances. Today, remnants of that era—like the Castle Keep, Town Walls, and West Gate—stand as silent witnesses to the courage, suffering, and historical weight of those turbulent months.
