Blore Heath Battlefield

About

On the morning of 23 September the armies of the House of Lancaster and the House of York met at Blore Heath and fought the battle which would begin the English Wars of the Roses. Thousands of men from across England fought and died in a bloody battle, which lasted for the rest of that day.The Battle of Blore Heath was a decisive victory for the Yorkists. However, the advantage was short-lived as less than three weeks later York deserted his army at Ludford Bridge and fled to Ireland; Salisbury and Warwick fled to Calais and the Yorkist army surrendered to the king.

Legend has it that Queen Margaret of Anjou watched the battle from the nearby Mucklestone church tower, only to flee when she realised her army had lost.

The battlefield, which in 1459 had been largely open, is now fully enclosed agricultural land, though it has not been affected by modern development or other destruction. The wood upon which the left flank of the Yorkist army was anchored is of lesser extent than at the time of the battle, and the road pattern has also changed since the medieval period. Access around the battlefield is possible by public footpath and by a small lane that runs from Blore to the A53, though the A53 is a busy road and unsuitable for parking or walking. The Audley Cross which marks where the Lancastrian leader fell is on private land and is not accessible.

There is an annual event on Battle anniversary which includes a talk and guided walk.