Visiting the battlefields in 2020.

I crossed the Arnhem Bridge this morning on my bicycle

.. strong headwind!

September has been a very quiet month this year ... almost dull

 

Hmm up to a point. We are in butterfly wings territory here.

Towton was the battle that started Edward IV on the path to Shakespere's lines. "Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;"

This son of York - aged 19 in 1461 won a lot more battles than Towton. Edward IV was one of Britain's greatest military commanders and finest fighting monarch. His victories: Mortimer's Cross, Towton, Barnet and Tewksbury. The reconquest of England against his cousin Warwick is a great adventure tale and was a fantastic military feat.

Balance of forces Feb 1471
Yorkists Edward 2,000 men
Lancastrians Warwick and Queen Margaret, 20,000 and command of the sea

Mission rescue wife and child from Westminster Abbey, capture king Henry VI from HM Tower, defeat forces of Cousin Warwick and Queen Margaret. He landed near Hull around 15th March gathers troops and fights Barnet on 14th April and Tewksbury on 4th May. Hard marching and fighting.

Come on one of my Barnet Walks and I'll tell you more.

 

I've got involved in a little project looking into the three-week-long Civil War siege of King's Lynn. Some of us had a wander around the defended perimeter a couple of weekends ago trying to relate what's there to some later maps that promise all sorts of earthworky goodness. They're not really delivering, though.