DiscoverYorkshire’sBattlefields

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Welcome to Yorkshire, a county steepedin history and alive with passion.

The length and breadth of our wonderful county isadorned with historic palaces and castles, bloodybattlefields, romantic retreats and country homes– all of which have played key parts in creatingYorkshire’s rich history.

With more than 90 sites in Yorkshire, they are thesource of legends, conjuring up tales of bravery,heroism and adventure. They helped shaped thevery county in which we live, visit and love. Theyare Yorkshire’s battlefields.

Welcome to our new guide, celebrating thesehistoric sites. We now invite you to discover moreand create your own history!

York Archaeological Trust

Chris Tuckley is Acting Head of Interpretation atYork Archaeological Trust, with responsibility forthe JORVIK, DIG, Barley Hall and Micklegate Barattractions. He has recently completed work ona new exhibition at Micklegate Bar to mark the550th anniversary of the Battle of Towton. Hewas awarded a PhD by the Institute for MedievalStudies, University of Leeds, in 2009.

Gary VerityChief ExecutiveWelcome to Yorkshire

Dr Chris TuckleyActing Head of Interpretation,JORVIK, DIG, Barley Hall,Micklegate Bar Museum

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O VikingBattle of Fulford, 20th September 1066In September 1066 the Norwegian king Harald Hardradasailed up the Ouse with an invasion force of 300 ships.Accompanying him was Tostig, the exiled Earl ofNorthumbria and brother of the English king, HaroldGodwinson. They encountered an army led by EarlsEdwin and Morcar a mile and a half south of York’s walls,in an area of open fields and marshland. The battle itselfis thought to have been short, with the English troopsdriven back to flee towards the city, or to drown in theOuse. York surrendered and an agreement was reachedwhereby the Vikings would receive hostages and tributeat Stamford Bridge.

O VikingBattle of Stamford Bridge, 25th September 1066King Harold of England was preparing the south for ananticipated invasion by Duke William of Normandywhen news reached him of Hardrada’s invasion. Turningat once to the north, he marched his army day andnight, arriving at Stamford Bridge with such suddennessthat the Vikings were taken completely by surprise.Both Hardrada and the rebel Tostig were slain in thebattle that followed. The Viking army was decimated,but survivors were allowed to return to Norway oncondition that they never return. Stamford Bridge was avictory for King Harold and marked the end of theViking Age in England, but the toll that it took on theEnglish army may have contributed to its defeat at theBattle of Hastings less than three weeks later.

DiscoverYorkshire’sBattlefields

O Scottish Wars of IndependenceMyton-on-Swale, Battle of Myton 20th September 1319Encouraged by recent victories over the armies of theEnglish king (as at Bannockburn in 1314), the Scotsmade ever bolder inroads into Yorkshire. One raidingparty menaced York; with the king occupied elsewhere,the Archbishop took charge of a rapidly assembledforce that went to halt its progress. Much of themanpower was recruited from York’s religious houses,and the garments of the churchmen led to the ensuingengagement being dubbed ‘The White Battle’. Aftercrossing over the River Swale at Myton, theinexperienced English troops were confronted by theScots, who had set fire to three haystacks, producingsmoke that screened them from view. The English beganto flee, but were cut off from the bridge. Many drownedin the Swale. The Lord Mayor of York was one of thosewho perished.

O VikingClifford’s Tower and Baile Hill, YorkSeptember 1069Two motte and bailey castles were built in York byWilliam the Conqueror in 1068-9 to enforce his rule inthe region. In September 1069, King Swein of Denmarksent a fleet up the Humber, and the Northumbrians rosein revolt against their Norman overlords. The garrisonwas overwhelmed, and the castles captured anddismantled. William returned to re-establish control in amassacre of the northern people remembered as the‘Harrying of the North’. The stone keep known asClifford’s Tower was built between 1245 and 1272. Ittakes its name from the rebel Roger de Clifford, whosebody was gibbeted there following his execution for hisrole in the Battle of Boroughbridge. During the Civil War,York Castle was garrisoned by Royalist troops, sufferingdamage during the siege of York in 1644.

O The AnarchyBattle of the Standard, Northallerton22nd August 1138One of only two major battles fought during the civilwar known as ‘The Anarchy’. King David I of Scotlandsupported his niece Matilda in her claim to the Englishthrone, but when he marched into Yorkshire with his son,Henry, he found his way barred by an army raised byThurstan, Archbishop of York. This army carried at itshead a pole (or ‘standard’) on which were mountedsacred artefacts and symbols. The Scottish attack metwith a storm of English arrows, which felled them ingreat numbers. Even a successful cavalry charge byPrince Henry did not prevent a bloody rout. The massburials of horses and men which followed the battle arerecalled in the name of a local trackway, Scot Pits Lane.

O The AnarchyMalton Castle, August 1138Details of the siege laid here by Archbishop Thurstan’sarmy after the Battle of the Standard are scarce; itseems that Eustace Fitzjohn, who held the castle atMalton at that time, had taken the side of Matilda andKing David I of Scotland. He reportedly intended todeliver the castle up to David, and had given his meninstructions to raid the surrounding villages. A portion ofThurstan’s army besieged the castle on their return fromthe Battle of the Standard and burned the town.Nothing of Fitzjohn’s castle now remains, but a steepearthen bank that falls away towards Castlegate andfragments of later stone walls are still visible.

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York

O Scottish Wars of IndependenceBattle of Boroughbridge, 16th March 1322When the rebellious Thomas Earl of Lancaster reachedBoroughbridge, fleeing as the king pursued him fromthe south, he found the bridge on the Ure held for theking by Sir Andrew de Harcla. Harcla refused tonegotiate with Lancaster, whose army tried to force acrossing on foot, only to be repelled by pikemen andarchers. Lancaster’s cavalry headed towards a fordfurther along the river, but the horsemen were halted bya storm of arrows. A truce was made, and during thenight Harcla’s troops were reinforced by the Sheriff ofYorkshire. The next morning Lancaster was called on tosurrender. Captured and taken to York, he was executedat Pontefract Castle on 22nd March.

OWars of the RosesBattle of Bramham Moor, 19th February 1408Henry Percy, the First Earl of Northumberland, was inopen rebellion against King Henry IV. He returned fromexile in 1408, accompanied by Lord Bardolf, The Abbotof Hailes and the Bishop of Bangor, at the head of anarmy of loyal Northumbrians and lowland Scots. A forceled by Sir Thomas Rokeby, the Sheriff of Yorkshire,barred their way at the river crossings in Knaresboroughand Tadcaster. The rebels withdrew to Bramham Moor;by agreement between the two parties, it was decidedthat battle should take place there. The sheriff foughtunder a flag of St George. The brief engagement resultedin the death of the Earl, whose body was stripped andbeheaded. Bardolf died of his wounds soon after. Theking came to York to pass judgement on the rebels; thebishop received a pardon, but the abbot was hanged.

OWars of the RosesSandal Castle, 30th December 1460In 1317, Thomas Earl of Lancaster besieged this castle,and in 1460 it provided a base for Richard Duke of Yorkand his army prior to the Battle of Wakefield. Richard’sLancastrian enemies were raiding his estates from theirbase at Pontefract, and he and the Earls of Rutland andSalisbury had travelled north to deal with the problem.The ensuing battle is supposed to have been betweenthe castle and Wakefield town, a monument erected onManygates Lane in 1897 is said to mark the spot wherethe Duke fell. Rutland and Salisbury also perished, thesevered heads of all three were spiked on York’s citywalls. The castle was garrisoned by Royalists during theEnglish Civil War, putting up stiff resistance againstbesieging Parliamentarians. After Pontefract Castle hadfallen a full siege was laid, reducing its walls to rubble.

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OWars of the RosesBattle of Towton, 29th March 1461On Palm Sunday 1461, the Yorkist army of Edward IVfought with an army loyal to Henry VI at Towton; thebattle left a reported 28,000 dead. Although theLancastrian army occupied an advantageous position atthe outset, it found itself facing into the wind andblinded by a snowstorm. Its arrows fell short, whereasthose of the Yorkist archers proved lethal. Forced intoadvancing, the Lancastrian infantry pushed forward, andhand-to-hand combat is said to have lasted for hoursuntil fresh Yorkist troops arrived on the field. TheLancastrian retreat became a bloody rout, with manydrowning in the Cock Beck as they tried to escape.Amongst the Lancastrian dead was Henry Percy, theThird Earl of Northumberland. After the battle, whenEdward rescued the heads of his father (Duke Richard)and brother (the Earl of Rutland) from Micklegate Bar, hehad them replaced with those of Lancastrian captives.

OWars of the RosesYork City Walls, York As York’s most important gateway, Micklegate Bar istraditionally the point at which kings and queens ofEngland enter when visiting the city. It is also the placewhere the heads of traitors were displayed. Tradition hasit that the head of Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur), whosefather later perished at Bramham Moor, was displayedon the Bar after his death in battle in 1403. MicklegateBar also witnessed the surrender of the city to the forcesof Parliament on 16th July 1644, following a long siegeand the Battle of Marston Moor. Damage from the siegecan still be seen, most notably at Walmgate Bar and StMary’s Tower, Marygate; the latter was undermined anddestroyed in an unsuccessful attempt to breach thecity’s defences.

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O English Civil WarBattle of Tadcaster, 7th December 1642In December 1642 the Earl of Newcastle’s Royalist forcesmoved to attack Lord Fairfax’s army at Tadcaster. Fairfaxdetermined that Tadcaster was not defensible, andordered that its bridge be dismantled to prevent theRoyalist forces crossing into the town on the west bank.He began to withdraw, leaving musketeers manning anearthwork to the east of the bridge, but the Royalistsclosed on the Parliamentarian rearguard so quickly thatmen had to return to support them. The Royalists fellback to shelter behind hedges nearby, and the armiesexchanged fire until nightfall. Under the cover of night,the Parliamentarians withdrew, and on the followingmorning the Royalist army occupied the town. Althoughthe Royalists now held a key strategic position, they hadsuffered numerous casualties.

O English Civil WarBattle of Adwalton Moor, 30th June 1643Lord Fairfax was stationed with his army in Bradford asthe Earl of Newcastle drew near; he decided that thetown could not be held against artillery, and determinedto launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp threemiles off. Newcastle’s army was already on the march,however, and the two armies collided at Adwalton Moor.The Parliamentarians were forced to advance uphill,harassed as they went by musketeers amongst thehedgerows and houses. The considerable firepower ofFairfax’s army kept the Royalists at bay, halting twocavalry charges. For a time it seemed that Newcastlewould sound a retreat, but one Colonel PosthumousKirton led a company of pikemen in a desperate chargethat broke in amongst the Parliamentarian musketeers.Encouraged by this display of courage, there was ageneral advance which forced the main body of Fairfax’sarmy into a retreat.

O English Civil WarBattle of Marston Moor, 2nd July 1644One stormy summer evening, five armies met in thefields between Long Marston and Tockwith. Forcescommanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine and the Earlof Newcastle represented the Royalist cause; those ofthe Earl of Manchester and of Lords Leven and Fairfaxfought for the Parliamentarians. The engagement beganat around 7pm, when the Parliamentarians suddenlyadvanced on the Royalist camp, surprising the enemy atsupper. The Royalists had some success at the easternend of the battlefield, when a counter-charge repelled a

cavalry attack and exposed the enemy infantry, but thisadvantage was squandered when Royalist horsemen leftthe battlefield to chase fleeing soldiers or to target theenemy’s baggage. The western flank of the Royalist linewas routed by cavalry under Oliver Cromwell and DavidLeslie, and the Royalist horsemen failed to regroup toany effect. The infantry which remained was left helplessin the face of repeated cavalry charges. Newcastle’sWhitecoats refused to give in as they fought on into thenight. They gathered in a ditched enclosure, onlysurrendering when just 30 were left standing,surrounded by the bodies of 3,000 of their comrades.

O English Civil WarPontefract Castle, 1644–1648Following the Battle of Marston Moor and the Siege ofYork, the Royalist cause in Yorkshire was all but finished.Five garrisons held out for the king; these were atSkipton, Bolton, Sandal, Scarborough and Pontefractcastles. Pontefract was reputedly the mightiest. Adetachment of Royalists held All Saints Church belowthe castle, but heavy bombardment forced them toescape from the tower by means of a bell rope. Thegarrison refused to parley, even when a tower collapsedunder cannon fire, and they held out until the Royalistgeneral Marmaduke Langdale arrived to relieve them.The besiegers were driven off, but returned in March1645. The famished garrison eventually surrendered on20th July. The castle was briefly recovered in 1648, onlyto be besieged again in the autumn of that year; OliverCromwell himself conducted the siege for a time. On theexecution of Charles I, the garrison declared for his son,and remained a dogged presence until finallysurrendering on 25th March 1649.

O English Civil WarScarborough Castle, 1645Although loyal to the king, Scarborough was onlyloosely blockaded until February 1645, when the townand St Mary’s Church were taken by assault, thegovernor, Sir Hugh Cholmley, retreated into the castle.Over the following months, the opposing forces in thecastle and church exchanged fire, until a major attackwas launched by the besiegers on 17th May, duringwhich their commander, Sir John Meldrum, was mortallywounded. When the bombardment was renewed, thefortifications were gradually ruined, and the troopsinside the castle were worn down by scurvy and lack ofwater. Having defended the fortress for over twelvemonths, Sir Hugh surrendered it on honourable terms.

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© Royal Armouries

Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire

Skipton Castle Re-enactment www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

© Royal ArmouriesAdwalton Moor

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Discover more at yorkshire.com/battlefieldsSkipton Castle Re-enactment www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

© Royal ArmouriesScarborough Castle

Clifford's Tower, York

JORVIK, York

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10 inspirational ways toget to know orkshire

Heritage

Yorkshire’s heritageincludes magnificent ruinsand imposing castles. Theworld famous York Minstertowers over the historic cityand you can visit Jorvik andexperience Viking life!Imagine life as Lord andLady of the Manor anddiscover Yorkshire’s manystately homes.

City Life

Yorkshire cities such asLeeds and Sheffield offereverything from caféculture to clubs, brasseriesto ballet and gardens togalleries. You will find someof the best shoppingopportunities around fromHarvey Nichols to thefamous historic Leedsmarket – you’ll be spoilt forchoice!

Delicious

Yorkshire’s famed food anddrink can be found inabundant quality across thecounty’s numerous markets,farm shops and restaurants.From Michelin to madras,rhubarb to real ale, cheeseto Yorkshire Pudding,Yorkshire is simply delicious!

Indulgence

Have an indulgent visit toYorkshire and treat yourselfto something special,unusual or downrightdecadent. Spend anafternoon in the historicHarrogate Turkish Bathsfollowed by a night at agorgeous country househotel and dinner at one ofYorkshire’s five Michelinstarred restaurants.

Artistic

Yorkshire art comprisesacclaimed theatrecompanies, ballet, classicalmusic and modern galleries.Combine the visual delightsof Yorkshire’s landscape withthe best of outdoorsculpture and visit the worldrenowned YorkshireSculpture Park or thestriking, modern HepworthGallery in Wakefield.

The Great Outdoors

Yorkshire is famous for itscountryside – the rollinghills, moors and dales. TheNational Parks of theYorkshire Dales, North YorkMoors and the Peak Districtare perfect for walkingholidays and the stunningcoastline has some of themost popular seasideresorts in the UK.

Sport

Yorkshire is passionateabout sport and is home toYorkshire County CricketClub and many top footballand rugby teams. Thecounty is also a perfectplace for all outdoorenthusiasts. From the bestcross country mountain biketrack in the world at Dalbyand surfing at Scarborough,to the county’s nine topclass race courses.

Family Fun

There’s fun for all the familyin Yorkshire. Why not stepback in time and hop aboardone of our steam trains.Whether it’s the greatoutdoors, hands-onmuseums, the adrenalin rushof high ropes and zip wires,bike trails or just having funon the beach, Yorkshire isperfect for families.

Events and Festivals

Yorkshire events cover amultitude of themes. Forfestivals, there is food anddrink in the Dales and York,famous ales in Masham andof course many farmers’markets. Music festivalscover everything from EarlyMusic (Beverley) to rock atthe Leeds Festival.

Yorkshire Coast

The Yorkshire coastlineencompasses some of theUK’s most rugged andcharming countryside, fromtiny fishing villages clingingto rocky cliffs to gloriousstretches of white sand andfamily friendly seasideresorts, with everythingfrom windswept abbeys tothe county’s award winningfish and chips. You canexpect Blue Flag beachesand a chance to loseyourself in this naturallybeautiful destination.

Yorkshire has it all: seven vibrant cities, threeNational Parks, miles of golden beaches, twoUNESCO World Heritage sites and theworld’s only UNESCO City of Film, excitingcontemporary and historical attractions, afull calendar of international events, andmore Michelin starred restaurants than anyother area outside of London.

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WAKEFIELD

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Yorkshire by rail

You can get to Yorkshire byhigh-speed train fromLondon or Edinburgh inless than two hours withGrand Central and EastCoast services. TheMidlands is even nearer toYorkshire’s cities, whileTransPennine services offerdirect links from the NorthWest and the North East.

Yorkshire by sea

Ferry services to Hull andNewcastle link Yorkshirewith Holland, Belgium andGermany. P&O Ferriesoperate overnight servicesto Hull from Rotterdam andZeebrugge.

Yorkshire by road

Britain’s biggest and fastesthighways cross Yorkshirefrom north to south andeast to west, makinggetting here by car or bycoach very simple indeed.For details of the quickest(or the most scenic) drivingroutes see the AA or RACwebsites www.theaa.comand www.rac.co.uk

Yorkshire by air

Leeds-BradfordInternational Airport is our busiest air gateway,with flights from Aberdeen,Belfast, Bristol, Exeter,Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Isleof Man, London Gatwick,Newquay, Plymouth andSouthampton. You can alsofly to Robin Hood AirportDoncaster Sheffield,Humberside Airport andDurham Tees Valley Airport.

For more information go toyorkshire.com/travel

For more informationplease contact:

Welcome to YorkshireDry Sand FoundryFoundry SquareHolbeck Leeds LS11 5DL

0113 322 3500info@yorkshire.comwww.yorkshire.com

Getting here

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North Yorkshire

Ebberston and KingAlfrid’s Cave

Ripon Cathedral

Fulford

Clifford’s Tower and Baile Hill

St. Andrew’s Church,Middleton

Standard Hill, Northallerton

Pickering Castle

Sheriff Hutton

Fountains Abbey

Malton Castle

Boroughbridge

Myton

Scotch Corner, Sutton Bank

Byland Abbey

Rievaulx Abbey

St. Gregory's Church,Bedale

Church of All Saints andSaint James, Nunnington

St. Oswald’s Church, East Harlsey

St. Helen’s Church,Amotherby

St. Hilda’s Church,Ampleforth

St. Mary’s Church, KirkbyFleetham

St. Nicholas Church,Guisborough

All Saints Church, InglebyArncliffe

St. Nicholas Church, WestTanfield

St. Mary’s Abbey

Franciscan Friary andYork City Walls

Towton

All Saints Churchyard,Saxton

Bootham Bar

Spofforth Castle

Heworth Moor

Micklegate Bar

Tadcaster

Selby

Walmgate Bar and St. Lawrence’s Church

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St. Mary's Tower

Helmsley Castle

Knaresborough Castle

Scarborough Castle andSt. Mary's Church

Bolton Castle

Sherburn

Skipton Castle

Topcliffe

Northallerton

Marston Moor

Cawood Castle

Newburgh Priory

Old Mulgrave Castle

Walburn Hall

All Saints Church, Bolton Percy

All Saints Church, Wath

St. Michael's Church,Coxwold

St. James's Church,Bilbrough

York Minster

All Hallows Church,Sutton-on-the-Forest

Flamborough Head

Scarborough

Whitby Abbey

Guildhall and St. Martin-le-Grand

East YorkshireSt. Mary's Church, Little Driffield

Stamford Bridge

St. Martin's Church,Burton Agnes

Beverley Minster

Beverley Gate, Hull

Bridlington

Beverley

Fort Airmyn

St. Mary's Church, South Dalton

National Picture Theatre,Hull

St. Margaret’s Church,Hilston

South Yorkshire

Sheffield Castle

Rotherham

Sheffield

West Yorkshire

Castleford

Church of St. Michael andAll Angels, Thornhill

Bramham Moor

Duke of York Monument,Wakefield

Chantry Chapel, Wakefield

St. Oswald's Church, East Harlsey

All Saint Church, Harwood

Wetherby

Bradford

Leeds (and RoyalArmouries)

Wakefield

Adwalton Moor andOakwell Hall

Bolling Hall

Sandal Castle

Pontefract Castle

All Saints Churchyard,Pontefract

Thornhill Hall

Howley Hall

Please note that some of thesesites are not visitor attractions;they include public parks, placesof worship and even privatedwellings or businesses. Forfurther details (includinginformation on opening times and access), please refer toYorkshire.com/battlefields

We ask that visitors keep topublic thoroughfares and respectthe rights and responsibilities oflocal landowners, who safeguardthese sites for future generations.

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For more informationplease contact:

Welcome to YorkshireDry Sand FoundryFoundry SquareHolbeck Leeds LS11 5DL

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