To commemorate the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461 a fascinating new DVD is available.   It is based on a BBC documentary, but includes so much more which due to time constraints had to be cut out of the documentary.  This is not to be missed.

On a cold and snowy day in 1461 Henry VI’s Lancastrians and Edward IV’s Yorkists met on a field near Towton in Yorkshire. It has been estimated that 100 000 men fought at the 12 hour battle. At the end of the day approx. 28 000 men were dead, an equivalent of 1% of the English population at the time, Britain’s bloodiest battle.

During building work in 1996 the workmen found a mass burial pit from the battle.  This was excavated and analysed by archaeologists of the University of Bradford.  The results from this investigation have helped tremendously in our knowledge of the fighting in the period of the Wars of the Roses, as anyone who has read the book Blood Red Roses will know. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Battles, Towton, Wars of the Roses, Yorkists

Towton Cross

Sensational find at the Towton Battlefield

The Battle of Towton was fought on Palm Sunday 29 March 1461 between Edward IV’s Yorkists and the Lancastrians fighting for Henry VI.  The weather was atrocious, very cold with wind and snow.  The Yorkists won a decisive victory, securing the throne for Edward IV, however at huge cost of lives.  It is estimated that up to 28,000 soldiers were killed on a single day, approx. one per cent of the English population at the time, which makes it one of the bloodiest battles to ever take place on English soil. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Battles, Edward IV, Henry VI, Towton

Should you feel like escaping the heat of an Australian summer (not that we have noticed much summery weather so far!), why not head to Wakefield?  To commemorate the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Wakefield on 30 December, Wakefield Museum is organising a “Battle of Wakefield Exhibition”.

The organisers tell us that the exhibition “looks at the lead up to this infamous battle, the characters involved and its effect on England’s history.”  They promise to excite the visitor with rare and fascinating objects.  However, the “specially commissioned comic strip of the battle” does intrigue me and I would love to find out more.

The exhibition runs from 16 October 2010 to 29 January 2011.  You can find out more here.

Tags: Battles, Richard Duke of York

We have reviewed this new book by Peter Hammond for your information.  Read the review  here.

The book is a thorough analysis of the lead up to the Battle of Bosworth and the battle itself, based on the recent discovery of the actual spot where the battle was fought.  Fascinating reading!

Tags: Battles, Books, Henry Tudor, Ricardian Authors, Richard III

Thanks to Karen Clark I read recently a note about “King Henry VI English Spring Water”.  To be honest at first I thought that it might be a belated April Fools’ joke, but it seems to be for real.

After the loss of the Battle of Hexham on 15 August 1464 the Lancastrian king Henry VI stayed in hiding for several months with Sir Ralph Pudsey, a Lancastrian supporter, at Bolton Hall.  This is in Bolton-by-Bowland in Lancashire, not far from Skipton, the home of another Lancastrian family, the Clifford (see here).  There is a memorial to Sir Ralph Pudsey in the local church, which also includes his three wives and twenty five children. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Battles, Henry VI

A 36ft (approx. 11 m) long sign has been erected at Bosworth Battlefield saying “Bosworth 525”.  It is supposed to draw attention to the Anniversary Re-enactment of the Battle.  The sign is so large that it can be seen from a mile away.

This year marks the 525th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth in which King Richard III was killed on 22 August 1485.

It is questionable whether such a Hollywood style sign is appropriate to mark the death of a person, whatever your personal view of him.  It creates the image of a Disney World extravaganza rather than an interpretation of an actual battle based on factual evidence.

Source:  BBC Leicester

Tags: Battles, Richard III

To mark the 525th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth this year, Bosworth Battlefield has launched an international search for the descendants of those who fought at the battle on 22nd August 1485.

The Visitor Centre has a list of names of many men who fought in the battle, but there is still much to be learned about them and bring them back to live, so to speak.  As Curator Richard Knox explains:  “We have a list of names of men who fought at the battle from sources, including the Italian historian Polydore Vergil, but we know very little else about them. We would love to hear from families who believe their ancestors are connected to the battle and start to add some flesh to the bones of the Bosworth story.”

One of those they found is James Orrell, whose ancestor Ralph Orrell was a cousin of Lord Thomas Stanley, whom he helped to decide the battle for Henry Tudor. As a reward he was paid ten marks a year for life, for good and faithful services.  Fortunately his descendant displays for us more acceptable loyalties when he says:  “I can’t help but feel Ralph fought for the wrong side, but understandably you didn’t argue with the Stanleys!”

On the weekend of the anniversary itself there will be a spectacular re-enactment of the battle, to which the descendants will be invited.  The event will also include a thrilling jousting tournament, majestic falconry displays, skill-at-arms, guided walks, medieval market, living history encampment and expert talks.  You even get the chance to meet King Richard III at lunch with his Commanders and ask him any questions you may have about the impending battle.

You can find out more from the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre as well as Leicestershire Museums.

Tags: Battles, Richard III

Just a reminder that The Richard III Society, NSW Branch, is planning to remember the death of Richard III and his gallant band who fell with him (as well as those who survived) at Redmore Plain on 22nd August 1485 with a lunch at:

The Hero Of Waterloo Hotel,
cnr Windmill & Lower Fort Sts,
Millers Point, Sydney

Time:  from noon

Date:  Sunday, 22nd August 2010.

Room:  Downstairs Luncheon Room, off the bar.
Access from Lower Fort St or through bar from Windmill St.

Do hope to see you all there!

Please let Kevin know definitely whether or not you are able to attend this function by Saturday 14th August 2010 (day of General Meeting), as he needs to provide definite numbers to Hotel management by Monday, 16th  August.

Please also contact him if you need help with information on how to get there.

You can contact Kevin at social@richardiii-nsw.org.au.

Tags: Battles, NSW Branch, Richard III

I have just finished reading this excellent new book by Helen Cox and would like to recommend it to everyone interested in the period.  You can read a review of it here.

Tags: Battles, Books, Ricardian Authors, Richard Duke of York