Battle of Gunnislake New Bridge

During the Civil War Cornwall was a devoted county of England, entirely loyal to King Charles I and the Royalist cause. However, Devon was Parliamentarian, forcing the River Tamar into the site of many battles. Each side of the Tamar understood that if they were to either invade or defend themselves they had to have control of the Tamar's crossings. Gunnislake New Bridge was one of four bridges crossing the River Tamar.[1]

The Parliamentarian forces headed by Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex pushed into Cornwall over the bridge. They were met with a great defence from Grenville's forces, quartered at the garrisons of Cotehele House and Harewood House, Calstock. The bridge was hard fought for, but the Parliamentarians failed to advance into Cornwall. The fighting lasted only for a day. It resulted in 240 casualties, and many royalists were taken prisoner.[2][3][4]

After the stalemate at New Bridge the forces continued to defend either side of the bridge. Lord Essex's force travelled north to Launceston, leaving half of his force defending New Bridge. Lord Essex then regrouped with his other force based to the northern half of the Tamar Valley. On the 26th of July Lord Essex was victorious at a bridge on the River Tamar this allowed him and his forces to penetrate the Royalist defences and to continue into the heart of Cornwall. This was culminated in the Battle of Lostwithiel, resulting in a disastrous defeat for the Parliamentarian force.

• Cornwall in the English Civil War

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gunnislake New Bridge.

• Calstock Online Parish Clerk
• Calstock History
• Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Calstock
• Calstock Parish Church History, Rev Gordon Ruming