British battles program

[Antioch (Bob)]

Agreeing with Simon... think thats a great idea Martin.

Probably the best concept when you can't walk a battlefield yourself. So many battle descriptions in books etc just loose a lot in the translation.

Of course in this country...my closest battlefield is around Batoche, Saskatchewan..some 1600 km away. The Riel rebellion was also hardly a major battle (quite different).. the seven year war ones in N America, probably 3000-3500 km away. Distance is certainly a parameter here. 

So yes Please do.

Bob

[Colonel Kilgore]

You could even split the task? E.g. ask Sean to walk Stoke Field and splice yourself in with the game?

Simon (but still considering SJ)

[Sean Clark]

Simon,
Although to many of those in the south, North of Watford gap is all the same, but Stoke Field is actually Nottingham way I think...no where near Stoke in Trent 😂🤣

However, as I have mentioned several times before, I am on  the doorstep of Blore Heath. And luckily Ava is in the same class as the daughter of the current landowners/farmer. So I am sure a visit could be arranged. I could even provide lodgings for a couple of intrepid travellers to join me!

[martin goddard]

I think that one is a goer Sean. How difficult to get onto that land?
How about 23rd September . Which is the anniversary?
We could muster about ? People.
Would you be happy with a couple of coconut shells charging up that hill 3 times Sean? We could speed it up on the video to look as if you are galloping?

Have a think before committing your daughter but she might enjoy it too.

Gareth has it all in 6mm too.

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Sean,

Apologies, I knew you were very close to one of the battlefields - a combination of poor memory and (as you suggest) a typical Southerner's hazy geography led to my slight misidentification of the site...

Still, it sounds as though this might be a goer?

Simon

[Sean Clark]

Easily done Simon. To be honest working in Stoke as I do, it often feels like a medieval battle on a Friday night😆

I shall investigate the opportunities. Of course, Bosworth would be a good one too. And Naseby.

[Alan]

Living in York I am lucky as we have Towton and Marston Moor pretty much on our doorsteps. There is now a battlefield walk at Towton and me and my friend, who is a fellow wargamer, are going to to walk it on Wednesday. We will be following the social distancing rules of course though I've already had covid-19 and pretty unpleasant it was too.

Having been to Tewkesbury a few years ago I would really recommend a visit. When I was there the shops in the town centre had each chosen a different participant in the battle and put his banner up. It looked spectacular. It's a nice battlefield to walk around  too and the abbey is beautiful.

[martin goddard]

Good info Alan.
You need to post a couple of pictures when you get them

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

Tewkesbury sounds great.

It's easy to forget sometimes quite how much history we have on our doorsteps.

Simon

[Alan]

I'll try Martin. I'm not a super whizz with a smart phone but I'll take some pictures and see if I can figure out how to post a few of the best ones here.

Yeah Tewkesbury is a real good one to visit. I think the banners are posted either during the mediaeval festival they have or possibly throughout the summer I'm not sure. A Yorkist victory too!

[Alan]

Here's my attempt at posting some pictures from Towton.

In the first picture you need to visualise the Lancastrians advancing down that slope and almost pushing the Yorkists back over a ridge to the Yorkist rear (not in shot obviously). If they had managed to push the Yorkists onto the downslope of that ridge the battle would no doubt have been over.

The second and third pictures follow the line of the Lancastrian rout.

The bridge of bodies that the chroniclers refer to is most likely somewhere in the fourth picture but it's hard to be exact about precisely where.

The last picture is Dacre's Cross. The date on the plinth is a day before the battle, one can only assume it takes into account the Battle of Ferrybridge, probably fought on the 28th of March 1461 though some believe it was fought on the same day as Towton.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thanks for posting, Alan - they give a nice view of things.

Simon

[martin goddard]

Really good Alan.
Very useful and interesting.
Your photos are just fine.

thank you

martin

[Alan]

I've put a few explanatory notes with them. It was a bit rainy but me and my friend enjoyed ourselves.

[Antioch (Bob)]

Thanks Alan, much appreciated.

Bob