1644 Siege of Lathom House.

1644 Siege of Lathom House. Lasted from late February to late May, when the siege was lifted; it was a military confrontation between a Parliamentarian army commanded by Lord General Thomas Fairfax, and a Royalist strong-hold in Lancashire. Commanded by Charlotte de la Tremoüille (Countess of Derby) her Husband James Stanley (7th.Earl of Derby) was the leading Royalist adherent in the northwest of England when the Civil War broke out in1642. The family seat of the Stanleys was Lathom House. 1643 James Stanley (7th.Earl of Derby) was ordered by Charles I to fortify the Isle of Man against a possible Scottish invasion, and then move on to the northern campaign. His wife, Charlotte de la Tremoüille, was left in charge of what turned out to be the last re- maining Royalist stronghold in Lancashire. Lord-General Thomas Fairfax saw James Stanley (Earl of Derby)'s absence as an opportunity to strengthen Parliament's position in Lancashire and set out to conquer Lathom House, after the fall of Warrington, the Roundheads requested that Charlotte de la Tremoüille (Countess of Derby) to acknowledge Parliament's authority and surrender her house, but she refused on the grounds that doing so would dishonour her husband. She offered to limit herself to defending her home, and this postponed further attacks on her position.