THIS DATE IN ENGLISH CIVIL WAR HISTORY

March 1st, 1645 – Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his Northern Horse relieved Royalist- held Pontefract Castle. The abandonment of the siege of the castle by Parliamentarian forces was a natural development following Langdale’s victory over Lambert a few days before. Langdale was unable to control his men, however, and their looting of the surrounding countryside alienated even those locals who had previously held pro-Royalist sentiments. Within a short time Langdale’s Northern Horse left the area and the Parliamentarians simply resumed their siege of Pontefract Castle.