The Battle of Powick Bridge was a skirmish fought on 23 September 1642[a] south

of Worcester, England, during the First English Civil War. It was the first engagement
between elements of the principal field armies of the Royalists and Parliamentarians.
Sir John Byron was escorting a Royalist convoy of valuables from Oxford to King
Charles's army in Shrewsbury and, worried about the proximity of the
Parliamentarians, took refuge in Worcester on 16 September to await reinforcements.
The Royalists despatched a force commanded by Prince Rupert. Meanwhile, the
Parliamentarians sent a detachment, under Colonel John Brown, to try to capture the
convoy. Each force consisted of around 1,000 mounted troops, a mix
of cavalry and dragoons.