during the english civil war, melton was a roundhead garrison commanded by a colonel rossiter. two battles were fought in the town: in november 1643, royalists caught the garrison unaware and carried away prisoners and booty; in february 1645, sir marmaduke langdale, commanding a royalist force of 1,500 men, inflicted severe losses on the roundheads. around 300 men were said to have been killed. according to legend a hillside where the battle was thought to have been fought was ankle deep in blood, hence the name 'ankle hill'. however, this name is already mentioned in documents pre-dating the civil war. furthermore, the names of dalby road and ankle hill have since been switched around, thus confusing the true site of the battle.