Battle of Wigan Lane

In 1679 Alexander Rigby paid for the erection of a monument to Sir Thomas Tyldesley. Rigby had been his standard bearer and wished to mark the spot where his master had been slain during the Battle of Wigan Lane which took place on 25th of August 1651.

An inscription placed on the monument reads as follows:

"An high Act of Gratitude which conveys the memory of Sir Thomas Tyldesley to posterity.

Who served King Charles the First, as Lieutenant Colonel at Edgehill Battle, after raising Regiments of Horse, Foot and Dragoons, and of the desperate storming of Burton-on-Trent over a bridge of 36 arches, received the honour of Knighthood.

He afterwards served in all the Wars in great command, was Governor of Litchfield and followed the fortune of the Crown through the three Kingdoms and never compounded with the Rebels, though strongly invested.

And on the 25th August, A.D. 1651 was here slain, commanding as Major General under the Earl of Derby.

To whom the grateful Erector Alexander Rigby Esq. was Cornet when he was High Sheriff of this County A.D. 1679.

Placed this high obligation on the whole of the family of the Tyldesleys, to follow the noble example of their loyal ancestor."

It can be seen from the above that the Earl was a valuable member of the Royalist forces.

During the Civil War most Wiganers were supporters of the king and his local leader the Earl of Derby whose residence, Lathom House, was only a few miles from the town. For a short time near the beginning of the conflict Derby was based in Wigan.

The town suffered for their allegiance and in 1643 fell to the parliamentarians; although eighty-six men held out for some time in the church tower and only gave in when the besiegers threatened to blow it up. Despite their victory, the occupation forces did not remain long.

In 1648 a wide ranging three-day battle was fought in the Preston area where a royalist Scottish army, led by the Duke of Hamilton, was confronted by Cromwell's forces. At one stage the fighting ranged as far south as Standish and some of the Scottish infantry entered and pillaged Wigan. Cromwell, himself described the incident in this way:

"...the townspeople of Wigan, a great and poor town... were plundered to their skins by them."

On the 25th of August, 1651 the Battle of Wigan Lane ensued when Lord Derby and his men were approaching Wigan from the north on their way to join the king at Worcester. Superior Roundhead forces, under the command of Colonel Robert Lilburne, were waiting for them in woodlands above the River Douglas.

The battle was short and brutal. In about two hours Lord Derby was heavily defeated. Half of his forces were killed and a further third captured. Notable among the dead were Sir Thomas Tyldesley and Lord Widdrington, a Northumbrian soldier. Lord Derby himself was wounded but managed to find refuge in Wigan.

This was the last Civil War battle to be fought in Lancashire. It marked the beginning of the end of Lord Derby's career. He eventually met with the king at Worcester but was subsequently captured and executed.

The site of the Battle of Wigan Lane is now called "Bloody Mountains". Near it, is "Widdrington Road", named after the fallen Northumbrian. The memorial to Tyldesley stands at the junction of "Monument Road" and Wigan Lane.

Eyewitness Account

The following account was written by the victorious Roundhead colonel,
Colonel Robert Lilburne.

"15th August, 1651

Honoured Sir,

The Lord hath pleased, this day to appear for us, in the totall rout and overthrow of the Lord of Derby and his forces, which was increased to about 1,500. He himself, though wounded, escaped, though narrowly. I would only entreat you to send out what horse you have or can get, to ride up and downe the country to gather up stragglers.I cannot enlarge myself at present, but I entreat you to accept of this from him that desires to expresse himself. Your ammunition is come safe. The Lord of Derby I heare is fled towards Bolton, but his sumptures and tresure are here. We intended for Manchester this night, and had hopes to take my Lord Generall's regiment of foot, and to have had five hundred men in readinesse to joyne with them.The Lord Witherington cannot live long.Colonell Boynton and Tyldesley are slaine, and others very considerable.I have divers colonels prisoners. Your very humble Servant,

ROBERT LILBURNE"

Casualties

Lilburne stated that he had not lost any officers in the engagement, only one corporal and about ten soldiers.

Casualties on the Royalist side included Lord Widdrington, Major-General Sir Thomas Tilsley, Colonel Math. Boynton, Major Chester, Major Trollop and "diverse others of quality whose names were not yet brought in..."