Richard Neville

Richard Neville, the son of Sir Henry Neville, was born at Billingbear House in 1615. On the death of his father in 1629, he inherited a large estate in Berkshire.

On the outbreak of the Civil War Neville joined the Cavaliers and served under the Earl of Carnarvon. He became commander of the regiment after Carnarvon was killed at Newbury in 1643.

Neville was wounded at Cropredy Bridge near Banbury in 1644. The war effectively came to an end with the defeat of the Royalist forces at Naseby. The battle was a disaster for Charles. About 1,000 of his men were killed and another 4,500 of his most experienced troops were taken prisoner. After Naseby, Charles was never able to raise another army strong enough to defeat the parliamentary army in a major battle.

Neville was with Charles I when he surrendered at Oxford in 1646. In January 1647, Charles fled to Scotland where he was captured and handed over to the parliamentary army. Charles was imprisoned in Hampton Court, but in November 1647 he escaped and managed to raise another army. This time Charles was able to persuade the Scots to fight on his side. In August 1648 Cromwell's parliamentary army defeated the Scots and once again Charles was taken prisoner.

Richard Neville died in 1676.