Battlefields Trust

Protecting, interpreting and presenting battlefields as historical and educational resources

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

2ndSiege of Basing. 4 June 1644
Col. Richard Horton begins a siege of Basing House. In early July, Colonel Morley arrives demanding the surrender of the house ‘to avoid the effusion of Christian blood.’ The Marquess of Winchester refused to surrender to Morley’s ‘crooked demand’.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Big Battlefield Walks Weekends 2026
12th -13th and 19th-20th September 2026

With the success of its 2025 free battlefield walks, designed to coincide with Heritage Open Days, the Trust has decided to run another programme in 2026.

N.B. Booking required. See Events in our bio.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Friday 10th July 2026, 1:30pm
Battle of Northampton 1460 - commemoration event

The annual commemoration of the battle of Northampton run by the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society.

Further information and contact details at Events in our bio.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Saturday 4 July 2026, 10am-4pm.
Battle of Northampton 1460 - Battle Day

Northamptonshire Battlefields Society will be running walks of the battlefield and displaying a model of the battle at Delapre Abbey.

Further information and contact details at Events in our bio.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Battle of Maidstone. 1 June 1648
Sir Thomas Fairfax being sent to quell the royalist uprising in Kent arrives before Maidstone. The royalists, seeking to hold back the parliamentarians, erect defences throughout the town. After some desperate fighting they are forced to surrender

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Saturday 25th July 2026, 10:45 or 11am (Meeting at 2 locations)
'Lechland Fight' 1645 - a Trisoc event

Where Legend Meets Primary Sources - A Battlefield Tour with Dr. Chris Scott

NB: Advance booking reqd. Full details at Events in our bio

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Sunday 28th June 2026, 2:30pm
The Military and Aviation history of Hounslow Heath

A 2 hour circular walk around Hounslow Heath, which explores the fascinating history of the small remaining segment in the midst of urban west London development
Further info at Events in our bio.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

29 May 1405
On Shipton Moor near York Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland (pictured), tricked rebel leaders Richard Scrope Archbishop of York and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, into disbanding their several thousand strong army, before taking them prisoner for King Henry IV

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Thursday 4th June 2026, 8pm.

Battlefields Trust Members Online Talk: Why no battlefield? The 'bloodless' revolution in England, 1688.

For further details see Events in our bio.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Storming of Bolton. 28 May 1644
Prince Rupert storms Parliamentarian Bolton, known as “The Geneva of the North” for its Calvinism.
Accounts claim a massacre of up to 1,600 people, though this is highly likely an exaggeration - civilian clubmen were in arms against the royalists.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Lathom House relieved. 27 May 1644
Prince Rupert, moving north towards York, relieved Lathom House, under siege from the local parliamentarians. Overseeing the defence was Charlotte de Tremoille, countess of Derby, wife of the owner, James Stanley, Earl of Derby.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Skirmish at Newbridge. 27 May 1644
On this day some a detachment of royalist dragoons valiantly beat back the army of Sir William Waller preventing him from crossing the River Thames at Newbridge. Once the royalists had retreated, Waller crossed the bridge to meet with Essex.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Storm of Evesham. 26 May 1645
After part of the royalist garrison was withdrawn, Col. Edward Massie was sent by the Committee of Worcestershire to capture Evesham. The town was stormed on 26 May after the parliamentarians breached the northern defences.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Sunday 28th June 2026, 2:15pm
Battle of Cropredy Bridge 1644

Join Anthony Rich to explore this battle between the Oxford royalist army and Sir William Waller's army

A service commemorating the battle is planned in the church after the walk

Further details at Events in our bio

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Raid on Isle of Wight. 24 May 1339
French raiders, having razed Plymouth, attempted a second landing on the Ilse of Wight. Unlike the previous year, the islanders were better prepared to beat off the French who retired as soon as they met resistance.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Godstow House. 23 May 1645
Hearing of the approach of a parliamentarian cavalry regiment, the defenders of Godstow set fire to the house before retreating to Oxford. Sheffield’s troopers arrived in time to extinguish the flames, although most of the house was later demolished.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Siege of Lyme Regis. 21 May 1644
On this day Prince Maurice’s royalists attacked the Cobb harbour at Lyme. Although they destroyed a number of ships, the determined parliamentarian defence drove them back. The siege was abandoned less than a month later.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

20 May 1217. 2ndBattle of Lincoln.
French hopes of ruling England receive a major setback as they fail to capture Lincoln Castle. Following heavy fighting between castle and cathedral English forces under William Marshall are victorious.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Raid on Plymouth. 20 May 1339
A French naval raiding force, baulked of repeating the successes of the previous year, sailed further west and attacked and razed the relatively undefended town of Plymouth, Devon.

[Battlefields Trust @battleftrust]

Sunday 21st June 2026, 11am
Stoke Field (1487) Battlefield Tour

Kevin Winter will lead a tour of the battlefield. This is the site of the last battle of the Wars of the Roses.

For further details, see Events in our bio.