Northamptonshire Battlefields Society is pleased to announce that three new information panels have been installed on the Registered Battlefield at Edgcote. The Battle of Edgcote, fought on 24th July 1469, is the least well known of the three Registered Battlefields in the County, and these boards will make a significant contribution towards increasing the general understanding of the battle and its importance. The boards incorporate the new research undertaken by Northamptonshire Battlefields Society for the 550th anniversary in 2019, including correcting the date of the battle.
Image (c) Graham Evans and Northamptonshire Battlefields Society.
The new boards have been installed following a joint project between Northamptonshire Battlefields Society, the Battlefields Trust and the Wills Estate, who manage the area which includes the majority of the Registered Battlefield.
Image (c) Graham Evans and Northamptonshire Battlefields Society.
The three boards cover the campaign, the battle and the aftermath in three different locations on the Registered Battlefield. All of these are accessible from public footpaths across the Wills Estate.
In addition to written information about the battle and its history, the boards include maps, and also illustrations by noted historical artist, Graham Turner
Graham Evans, Chair of Northamptonshire Battlefields Society said ‘this is the last of the three Registered Battlefields in the county to have updated information boards installed. Edgcote has received more attention in recent years after the 550th anniversary in 2019. It has been our aim since then to improve the interpretation on the battlefield itself and we are very pleased to have worked with the Wills Estate and the Battlefields Trust on this project. ’
Simon Marsh, Research Co-ordinator for the Battlefields Trust, added ‘its been a real pleasure working with Northamptonshire Battlefields Society and Wills Estates on this project and it shows what can be done through partnership working between local and national organisations’.
Historical Note: The battle of Edgcote was fought on 24 July 1469 and was the first major action in the campaigns of 1469-71, the second major period of unrest in the Wars of the Roses, otherwise known as “Warwick’s Rebellion”. This saw the Earl of Warwick (‘The Kingmaker’) break from Edward IV, who he had helped become king in 1461. Warwick was intending to replace Edward with his brother George, whose marriage to Warwick’s elder daughter, Isabel, he had arranged against the king’s wishes.
Warwick had caused a rebellion to breakout in Yorkshire, led by the mysterious Robin of Redesdale. The battle occurred when the army of the Earl of Pembroke, one of Edward’s most prominant supporters, was marching to join with Edward IV at Nottingham, encountered Redesdale’s rebels, who were marching to join the army of the Earl of Warwick. Pembroke was defeated and taken to Northampton, where he was executed. Edward IV was subsequently taken prisoner by the Earl of Warwick.
For further information email northampton.battlefields@gmail.com
Northamptonshire Battlefields Society 