Stuart (1603 - 1714)

Tamworth Castle during the English Civil War - 1642 - 1649
In the autumn of 1642 William Comberford raised a small royalist force and garrisoned the Castle for King Charles I (1625 – 1649). The Comberford family were lords of the manor of Comberford, Wiggington and Wednesbury. They owned the Tudor Moat house in Tamworth as well as the hall at Wednesbury.
 
At this time the neighbouring town of Lichfield was held by Parliament. This became the main target for the Tamworth royalists, who adopted the method of harrying opposing forces rather than outright battle. These tactics proved a success, hampering the supply routes to Lichfield. Inevitably it also bought them to the attention of the larger parliamentarian force who determined to end the royalist seat of control in Tamworth. 

On the 23rd June 1643 Tamworth castle was laid to siege by Parliamentarian for two days and captured by a detachment of Cromwell’s forces under Colonel William Purefoy. Comberford escaped but many of the garrison remained prisoners. 

The Royalist force tried to regain the castle in 1644 but Captain Willington successfully withstood an attack from 2,200 soldiers.

The Shirley and Compton’s
From 1688 to 1754, the Shirley's then the Compton's held the Castle. Neither of these noble families resided at the castle and made few changes. During this period the castle was rented to a number of tenants. An inventory exists dated 1730 that details all the possessions of a Walter Milward who rented the castle.