Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

The Market Harborough Civil War Trail

The Campaign and Battle of Naseby

— 5th-15th June 1645 —

The Market Harborough Civil War Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Stephen Palmer, October 19, 2025

1. The Market Harborough Civil War Trail Marker

Inscription.
The decisive battle of the English Civil War was fought in the fields of Naseby, Sulby, Sibbertoft and Clipston parishes, south of Market Harborough, on Saturday 14 June, 1645. The parliamentarian New Model Army, under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, defeated the royalist army, commanded by King Charles I and Prince Rupert of the Rhine.

The Armies and Commanders
Royalist Total: 10,150
4600 Foot Soldiers (under Astley)
5550 Horse (under Maurice and Langdale)
Parliamentarian Total: 13,576
7500 Foot Soldiers (under Skippon)
5400 Horse (under Cromwell and Ireton)
676 Dragoons (under Okey)

The Approach to Naseby
After the siege and storming of Leicester on 31 May, the royalist army marched first to Market Harborough and then on to Daventry to send supplies to their besieged headquarters, Oxford. On 13 June they returned, on their way north to Newark.
Sir Thomas Fairfax was in pursuit, moving from a camp close to Northampton to Guilsborough. That evening a parliamentarian patrol clashed with a royalist outpost in Naseby village, giving warning of the close approach of the New Model Army.

The King's Head
Charles

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I, who had been staying in Lubenham, was roused in the early hours of 14 June. He rode to the inn, later the King's Head, that stood in Church Street, near this site, to confer with Prince Rupert. He found him resting in a chair in a low room. It was reported afterwards that a Council of War was held, but this relies on the account, written two years later, of the king's Secretary at War, Sir Edward Walker, who makes it clear he was not present. Lord Digby was a member of the Council, but on 30 June 1645 he wrote, ‘I am sure noe councell [was] called.’ It seems most probable that Charles and Rupert discussed the situation between themselves and that the king's confidence that God would grant him a victory over enemies whom he held in contempt decided the matter. They would turn and fight. The battle proved to be fatal to the royalist cause.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, Non-US. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1645.

Location. 52° 28.776′ N, 0° 55.354′ W. Marker is in Market Harborough, England, in Leicestershire. It is at the intersection of High Street and Church Street, on the left

Photographed by Stephen Palmer, October 19, 2025

2. The Market Harborough Civil War Trail Marker

when traveling south on High Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 54 High Street, Market Harborough, England LE16 7AF, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in England’s Midlands.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 26 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Market Harborough Civil War Trail (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Great Glen War Memorial (approx. 12.7 kilometers away); Church of St. John the Baptist (approx. 13.8 kilometers away); Thomas Cook (approx. 21.8 kilometers away); Friends Meeting House - Oakham (approx. 24.8 kilometers away); Hudson's Cottage (approx. 24.9 kilometers away); Oakham Castle (approx. 25 kilometers away); Fit for a King (approx. 25 kilometers away).

More about this marker. Note: The King's Head

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pub referred to no longer exists. The current pub of the same name in Church Street was only built in 1828 and was originally known as The Grapes.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2025, by Stephen Palmer of Ascot, England. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2025, by Stephen Palmer of Ascot, England. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.