Sir Francis Thornhaugh was killed at the end of the Civil War in 1648 at Red Bank, just south of Chorley in a mop up operation after the Battle of Preston.
Fragments of the Duke of Hamilton's Scottish force in 1648, flying south before Cromwell, 'at some places made some stands as if they would fight it out, as upon Chorley Moor and Standish Moor,' but did not do so. Colonel Thornhaugh was killed in one of the skirmishes near Chorley; at Red Bank it is said.(1)
This area now is where the Tenent offices are on the banks of the Yarrow near the old Yarrow Bridge.
"At Chorley, Colonel Thornhaugh, at the head of two or three regiments of horse, came up with the rear of Duke Hamilton's army. "I ordered", says Cromwell, "Colonel Thornhaugh to command two or three regiments of horses to follow the enemy, if it were possible to make him stand till we could bring up the army. The enemy marched away 7000 or 8000 foot, and about 4000 horses; we followed him with about 3000 foot and 2500 horse and dragoons; and in this prosecution (pursuit) that worthy gentleman, Colonel Thornhaugh, pressing too boldly, was slain, being run into the body, and thigh, and head by the enemy's launcers: and give me leave to say he was a man as faithful and gallant in your service as any, and one who often heretofore lost blood in your quarrel, and now his last." (2)
The pursuit then continued on to Wigan with Cromwell commenting, "We lay that night in the field, close by the enemy, being very dirty and weary, and having marched twelve miles of such ground as I never rode in all my life, the day being very wet." The pursuit then continued on to Warrington.
(1) http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol6/pp129-149
(2) Lancashire & Cheshire: Past and Present. Volume 1 by Thomas Baines.
Fragments of the Duke of Hamilton's Scottish force in 1648, flying south before Cromwell, 'at some places made some stands as if they would fight it out, as upon Chorley Moor and Standish Moor,' but did not do so. Colonel Thornhaugh was killed in one of the skirmishes near Chorley; at Red Bank it is said.(1)
This area now is where the Tenent offices are on the banks of the Yarrow near the old Yarrow Bridge.
"At Chorley, Colonel Thornhaugh, at the head of two or three regiments of horse, came up with the rear of Duke Hamilton's army. "I ordered", says Cromwell, "Colonel Thornhaugh to command two or three regiments of horses to follow the enemy, if it were possible to make him stand till we could bring up the army. The enemy marched away 7000 or 8000 foot, and about 4000 horses; we followed him with about 3000 foot and 2500 horse and dragoons; and in this prosecution (pursuit) that worthy gentleman, Colonel Thornhaugh, pressing too boldly, was slain, being run into the body, and thigh, and head by the enemy's launcers: and give me leave to say he was a man as faithful and gallant in your service as any, and one who often heretofore lost blood in your quarrel, and now his last." (2)
The pursuit then continued on to Wigan with Cromwell commenting, "We lay that night in the field, close by the enemy, being very dirty and weary, and having marched twelve miles of such ground as I never rode in all my life, the day being very wet." The pursuit then continued on to Warrington.
(1) http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol6/pp129-149
(2) Lancashire & Cheshire: Past and Present. Volume 1 by Thomas Baines.
