Only 12 years after the ravages of the plague had subsided the country was divided by the turmoil and conflict of the Civil War. Dalton was once again to experience misery and suffering, this time at the hands of soldiers belonging to the Royalist and Parliamentarian armies in turn. Although Furness was not too deeply involved in the events of these troubled times compared with some other parts of the country we did, nevertheless, have our own 'battle'. By present-day standards, a skirmish such as this was would seem to be of little importance; but when one considers that, at this time, the population of the entire country was only about three million, and Dalton's population probably about five hundred, the sudden arrival on the scene of some two thousand five hundred armed men, obviously prepared to do battle, must have been the cause of great local concern.
For the following details of this affair, we are indebted to Mr. Thomas Park of Millwood who was then the High Constable of Furness. The first hint of troubles to come was when on 11 May 1643, a Royalist army consisting of 1,000 horse and 500 foot, arrived at Conishead after crossing the sands from Lancaster. The local population offered no resistance, and the Royalists remained in Furness for three days, taking whatever they wanted in the way of plunder, and they finally departed after disarming the locals and being given the sum of £500.
Farther to the south, the Parliamentarians had been increasing in strength and soon their army advanced northwards and occupied almost the whole of Lancashire. The local Royalists, inspired by the success of the earlier Royalist raid on Furness, decided to raise a force of their own, with the intention of evicting the Parliamentarians , This force was under the command of Colonel William Huddleston of Millom Castle, who raised a regiment, and advanced into Furness across the Duddon. On arriving at Kirkby he combined with a small group of Furness Royalists and then moved on to Dalton where he established his headquarters. One of his first acts was to arrest as many of the leading Parliamentarians as he could and they were then imprisoned in Dalton Castle. Unfortunately for Colonel Huddleston, his security arrangements must have been rather slack, for some of his prisoners managed to escape and succeeded in warning a Parliamentary force under Colonel Rigby which was besieging Thurland Castle.
Colonel Rigby with some of his soldiers immediately left Thurland and headed for Furness arriving at Ulverston on 30 September, where they spent the night The following morning (Sunday) his force left Ulverston and headed for Dalton, stopping en route at Swarthmoor where a prayer service was held for his troops. After the service he pressed on for Dalton, but after passing through Lindal found his path barred by Colonel Huddleston's troops who were positioned on Lindal Close, blocking the road to Dalton. Colonel Rigby's force was smaller than Colonel Huddleston's and consisted of 500 foot soldiers, two drakes (cannons) and three troops of horse. The Royalists numbered about 1,600 and were mainly mounted. Despite their numerical advantage, however, the Royalists were neither as well armed or trained as Colonel Rigby's soldiers, a factor which was soon to prove disastrous for them.
The fight commenced with both sides lined up and shouting at one another while powder and shot were distributed to the musketeers. When all was ready for action, Colonel Rigby's force quickly took the initiative by making a determined charge which the Royalists were unable to withstand, and they were rapidly put to flight with their victorious opponents on their heels. Some were caught and killed by the pursuers and many others were drowned, caught by the incoming tide as they were crossing the Duddon estuary. Colonel Huddleston was captured with about four hundred of his men, six foot colours, one horse colour, two drums, an ammunition wagon drawn by eight oxen, as well as horses and arms. His work now done, Colonel Rigby left for Thurland Castle, after detailing a force consisting of one troop of horse and one company of foot to remain behind to quieten the countryside. This force quickly started plundering the area, and Dalton suffered considerably at their hands before they finally departed.
A second incident involving bloodshed commenced with the defeat of the Royalist commander, Prince Rupert, at Marston Moor on 2 July. After the battle he collected together the remnants of his force and eventually arrived at Hornby, near Lancaster. From here he despatched a force under the command of Sir John Maney into Furness. This force established their headquarters at Dalton.
Anchored at Piel Harbour was a small fleet of Parliamentary ships
whose crews, inspired by earlier Royalist defeats, decided to drive Sir
John Maney and his men out of the district. They joined up with some of
the local inhabitants who had similar ambitions and, without any form of
plan or strategy and in broad daylight, advanced boldly upon Dalton. Sir
John and his troops were at a sermon when the alarm was raised and they
took up their positions in a field about a mile from Dalton and quite near
Furness Abbey. Sir Henry Slingsby, who had joined Sir John Maney at Dalton
described the affair in his diary. 'The enemy had taken into a little town
not above twice musket shot off from our horse. Their horse was not many
and drawn behind the town their foot had taken, some into a pinfold that
was walled with stone and stood in the middle of the town: the rest had
lined the hedges on either side. Sir John draws his horse into three
bodies, two he sends to beat off the foot, and himself charges directly
forward into the town. After one shot given they quit the town and
retreated to the rest of the foot in the field, those in the pinfold were
taken and killed. Their horse had the advantage of a deep crossway, that
our horse could not but with difficulty come at them; and seeing them not
stick at any difficulty betakes them to their heels. They chase the foot
to the very sides of the ships; their horse took by wayes as knowing well
the country. There was taken besides killed, 200 foot which were sent to
the Prince, and 17 sailors and some rich countrymen were kept at Dalton
castle, whom the Prince had given for exchange and make their advantage by
ransome or otherwise. We lost not any, only Sir John Preston had his horse
killed, and it may seem that being down, some of the foot running by gave
him a knock on the head, but some thought it was by falling upon a
stone...his perfect sense and understanding recovered not for half a year
after'.
