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Between 1642 and 1646 England was torn apart by a bloody civil war. At the heart of the conflict lay the policies and personality of King Charles I and his apparent determination to rule England without the assistance of Parliament.

On one side stood the supporters of the King: the Royalists. On the other stood the supporters of the rights and privileges of Parliament: the Parliamentarians.

The two sides fought for supremacy over four long years and the war included the famous battles of Edge Hill (1642), Marston Moor (1644) and Naseby (1645).

However, the Devon town of Torrington was the site of one of the last major battles of the war - its outcome helped to bring about the demise of Royalist power in England.

Sack and Plunder by Chris Collingwood

The Battle of Torrington took place in heavy rain on the night of 16 February 1646.

Led by General Thomas Fairfax, the Parliamentarians New Model Army swept into the town under darkness and fought a fierce battle with Lord Hopton's Royalist forces.

The skirmish involved approximately 17,000 men on foot and on horseback, who fought in the streets of Torrington.

As the battle proceeded, a stray spark ignited the Royalists' powder magazine stored in Torrington church.

Eighty barrels of gunpowder exploded, blowing the roof off the church and killing many Royalist soldiers and Parliamentarian prisoners in and around the church.

The battle is commemorated with a procession

The explosion effectively ended the battle. In the resulting confusion, Lord Hopton and what remained of the Royalist western army withdrew from Torrington and escaped into Cornwall.

Lord Hopton surrendered to Fairfax at Truro on 14 March 1646, agreeing to disband the western army and to go into exile.

The Battle of Torrington marked the end of Royalist resistance in the Westcountry and led to the eventual defeat and execution of King Charles I.

The anniversary of this bloody night-time battle is remembered in February each year with a spectacular torch-lit procession when the town turns out in 17th century costume and re-enacts the proclamation of the victorious Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Torrington also has a Civil War Trail and a fascinating visitor attraction 'Torrington 1646' which explores the history of the great battle.

The English Civil War paintings 'For God and Parliament' and 'Sack and Plunder' are reproduced courtesy Chris Collingwood.