Battles & Campaigns · 1642
Battle of Powick Bridge
Powick, near Worcester, England, UK
What happened
A Royalist convoy of valuables was sheltering in Worcester. Rupert's horsemen were resting in a field south of the city when Parliamentarian troops rode up through narrow lanes. Rupert's cavalry charged and drove most of them off, while Brown's dragoons held Powick Bridge to cover the retreat.
Why it matters
It was the first clash between parts of the two main armies of the English Civil War. It made Rupert's name as a cavalry leader and showed the Royalists could beat Parliament's troops.
What came next
The Royalist convoy left Worcester safely, and a month later the main armies met at Edgehill.
Did you know?
Nearly nine years later, fighting at Powick took place again during the Battle of Worcester, the war's final battle.
Timeline
- 23 Sep 1642Battle of Powick Bridge.
- 23 Oct 1642Battle of Edgehill.
- 3 Sep 1651Battle of Worcester, with fighting again at Powick.