| Where: | Towton, Yorkshire |
| When: | Palm Sunday |
| Time: | 10 am- 4 pm |
The Battle of Towton was fought on Palm Sunday 1461 in a snowstorm and was the bloodiest battle fought on English soil. Towton Battlefield Society organize a programme of events throughout the year and an annual commemorative event to remember the dead on both sides of the conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. See notes below as the event has evolved over time. In earlier years,as well as a battle re-enactment in the afternoon, there was a moving open-air religious service and a series of guided walks over the battlefield at regular intervals throughout the day. Currently, there are still guided walks and you can visit the living history encampment which has numerous authentically made items for sale. In the past the nearby barn hosted local groups and historical societies had stands selling merchandise, giving information and showing finds from the battlefield. Please note that my photographs show the event as it was in earlier years rather than as it is now.
Helpful Hints
Walks around the Battlefield still take place every year, and in 2024 there should be living history and have a go archery with plenty for families to do. It can be very muddy on the walk -wrap up well and wear sensible footwear.
In 2025 Palm Sunday will be on Sunday 13th April- follow the link below for full details and tickets for the walks..
When they hosted the larger public event, as you approached the village you’d see plenty of signs – and you could just follow them to ample free off-street parking right next to the start of the walks.Food and drink are no longer available on site-you might like to get in out of the cold and visit the Rockingham Arms which is within easy walking distance and does great Yorkshire Pudding.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082727043289
Click here for the event website : http://www.towton.org.uk/
to whom it may concern. I actually had a relative that fled with vi
from the field I would like to pay my respects and come to see the reanacment
when is it thanks trish
Robert Hungerford 3rd baron Hungerford. is there anyone that would be intrested
in my story and is there a socirty that I can join thanks trish
Hi Trish,
The re-enactment event doesn’t happen any more – last one was a few years ago now- but there are still guided walks around the site on Palm Sunday weekend and there’s a Towton Battlefield Society which has a programme of events throughout the year and I’m sure the members would be interested in you and your relative. Follow this link for the Society: https://www.towton.org.uk where you’ll find details of what they do and how to join.
Best wishes,
Averil
I am a descendant of Tristram Bolling Esq. (1427-1502). He was a survivor of this battle. He fought on the Lancastrian side. Very proud to be a descendant of this man. That is about 15 generations back in my genealogy. Posted on Dec. 3, 2022.
I have always wondered what it must have been like to be involved in hand to hand fighting in the midst of a battlefield ‘melee’. Being in the press of men slashing and stabbing, how could friend or foe be recognised once a battle had commenced and identifying clothing and banners had been ripped away. Towton battle must have been ‘hell’ for the combatants during a pitched fight that went on for hours, which beggars the question how did those men have the physical strength to keep fighting? Or were there interludes in the fighting when men were taken out the front line for respite.
Indeed it must have been a truly terrifying and exhausting experience which is difficult to imagine from a modern perspective- they were tough back in the day!