"By the end of December, the town was surrounded by Royalists and under siege. However, help was at hand in the form of a Parliamentarian force of '3550 horse and 5000 foot' which had marched south from Lancashire under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax."

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During the English Civil War, the Royalists (Cavaliers loyal to King Charles I) and the Parliamentarians (Cromwell's Roundheads) fought for a foothold in Nantwich. The town was considered the second most important in Cheshire at the time.

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The Battle of Nantwich took place on January 25th 1644 - a battle which became the first major victory for the Parliamentarians of the entire war. The battle was commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax (Parliamentarians) and Lord Byron (Royalists).

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"The defeat at Nantwich thwarted King Charles's plan to create a field army in the northwest based on regiments returned from Ireland."

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Following the Parliamentarians' victory, the people of Nantwich wore holly sprigs in their hats in celebration.

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Fast forward to present day, The Sealed Knot comes to Nantwich annually to re-enact the battle. The celebration is known as 'Holly Holy Day'.