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Roundway Down was the scene of a decisive victory for the Royalists over the Parlamentarians in the First English Civil War. The battle took place on 13th July 1643, The defeat was even more remarkable since the Royalist cavalry had ridden all the way from Oxford and defeated the Rounheads who were fully deployed in battle positions on Roundway Down. It was a rout and 600 cavalry and men were swept over the steep escarpment to their deaths. It was subsequently named Bloody Ditch b