The site of the Battle of Hastings. Photo: Glynn Burrows
BATTLES, WARS & SKIRMISHES
By Glynn Burrows
The last full-on invasion of England was in 1066, but there have been a lot of problems caused since then by different factions wanting to take over from other groups.
A lot of the problems were caused by the English taking over areas which belonged to others and then, the others attempting to take back what was originally theirs. Because of this, we see a lot of battles along the borders of Scotland and Wales. We also see a lot of fortification too, so those areas are always very interesting to visit because there are lots of castles and earthworks.
Looking at early battles, we start with the Roman invasion of 43 AD, but there are no sites to visit concerning the actual battles relating to the invasion. The Romans were such a massively superior fighting machine, it is unlikely that there are any identifiable sites we can visit today. After the invasion and subsequent takeover though, there are literally hundreds of sites where the Romans set up towns, forts, and built roads.
Some of the best sites are along Hadrian’s Wall, but there are so many Roman remains in the country that wherever you go, you are not far from something Roman.
Hadrian’s Wall in the English Countryside
There were several big battles between the Romans and local tribes and, for me, the most important was when Queen Boudica (Boadicea) attacked and did a very thorough job of being a thorn in the side of the foreign army. Sadly, we don’t know where many of these early fights took place, but East Anglia is the general area, with Colchester and Thetford being among the possible sites for much of the unrest.
Moving forward, our next invasions came from the East. The Vikings from Scandinavia took over much of the country, starting on the Eastern coast and including such places as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and most of East Anglia. This can be seen in the landscape today by the number of place names which are influenced by these people, including their personal names and also words from their own language.
York Castle, a medieval fortress in Northern England
The next, and last one to the present day, was the complete takeover by the Normans. The date is one which everyone, even the most disinterested person, has heard of and it is 1066, when William of Normandy decided to take the Crown of England away from Harold.
This was an extremely complicated time in English history, as there were several people who claimed a right to the Crown. With a battle going on at Stamford Bridge (near York), Harold was pretty busy when William thought this may be a good time to land on the South coast and be another thorn in his side.
The spot where King Harold died. Photo: Glynn Burrows
Harold succeeded in Yorkshire, but was soon made aware of the incoming Normans, so he made a very hasty journey to confront them just outside Hastings, in a place unsurprisingly called Battle. As with many battle sites, there is very little to see in either Stamford Bridge or Battle, but they are both worth a visit because of their significance in the history of the UK.
In the later years, after 1066, we had lots of smaller and more concentrated battles, with places like Bannockburn, Naseby, Marston Moor, Culloden, and even one called the Battle of Pinkie.
Statue of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland
When touring the sites of battles, one has to realize that there will often be little visible for several reasons:
Open Land: Most battles were fought on open land, with only things like the sacking or siege of a castle having something still visible today.
Preservation: Most known battlefields have been preserved as open spaces as a mark of respect to the hundreds of bodies still on the site.
Lacking Records: Many sites of battles were not accurately recorded because they were on open ground with few landmarks. It is often the case that we know the general area of a battle, but not the exact location.
Fluid Fronts: Battles were often fought over a few days or weeks and with several fronts and confrontations, so they were often spread over a large area. As it was a frantic time, people were not making notes about exact locations.
The one thing about touring the sites of battles is that there are lots to choose from, and they are a fantastic way to learn more about the details of history. Yes, the larger battles often changed the world as we know it, but many were just skirmishes which changed the way that local or national life was being governed.
The great thing about doing a tour of battlefields is that you can visit any part of the country and see lots of other things too, like castles, stately houses, and some amazing scenery.
As the founder of Norfolk Tours, Glynn Burrows creates immersive, custom journeys through the heart of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. He also specializes in helping his clients trace their English ancestry and to visit historic familial sites. Learn more at https://www.englishconnection.uk/.
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