Fought on the 25th January, Nantwich was the first battle of 1644. It was a substantial victory for the parliamentarians. Nantwich was relieved, the royalist domination of Cheshire was over, royalist artillery and the baggage train was captured and several senior royalist officers taken prisoner.

The Romans had troops in Nantwich and an old Roman track was recently discovered near the river. In the 1800s the town was a vital coaching route from London to Wales and Ireland. Historically, salt production was a major activity in the town. In the days before refrigeration it was the main method of preserving food.