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Most of the fighting of the First Battle of Newbury took place around Round Hill near the Green (but see also Wash Common). The Royalists had failed to secure the Hill while trying to stop the Earl of Essex reaching London after the Siege of Gloucester. It was between here and Dark Lane that the celebrated Viscount Falkland (of memorial fame) received his mortal wounds. He was the King’s Secretary of State, not a soldier, but joined Byron’s men on the assault on Round Hill. The attack was halted by various hedges that the Royalists found impassable under a small gap was discovered. Falkland immediately rode through and was met by a volley of musket fire. Some say he committed suicide because he could not bear to see Englishman killing Englishman. Prince Rupert is said to have stayed at (the now lost) Cope Hall, just below Round Hill, and the lane outside was said to have been heaped high with dead bodies. Ghostly sounds of the battle have been heard nearby in recent years. Not far away are cottages, still known as the Hospital, where King Charles visited the wounded when the battle was done.

See also Enborne.