Battle of Camp Hill

Easter Monday 1643, Birmingham was a battlefield with fighting taking place across the city between Royalist, civilians and Parliamentarian troops at the Battle of Camp Hill.

A unit of Royalist soldiers, led by the Prince were on their way to Garrison Lichfield.

Birmingham, a smaller town at the time, had been sympathetic to the Parliamentarian cause earlier in the war, even looting the Kings baggage wagon as he travelled through Birmingham. So, on his way to Lichfield Prince Rupert sought to teach to people of Birmingham a lesson.

The Royalist troops, much larger than their enemy, spent the day looting and setting fire to Birmingham - largely what is Digbeth today. 20+ people were killed and 40 prisoners were taken.

The next day, the Royalists moved on to Walsall and later Lichfield. Little remains of the Birmingham the fighting took place around. the Ship Inn, the Royalist headquarters was demolished, although a plaque marks the spot where it stood on Bordesley Middleway.

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Read more of our blogs on Birmingham's historic sites, including the history of Dudley Castlethe Founding Father in the West Midlandshistory of Birmingham's Gun Quarter & Gandhi's visit to the second city.