Flodden Field Memorial, Branxton, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland TD12 4SN. Free entry

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Brief description

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/the-battle-of-flodden-the-last-major-border-conflict.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flodden

"The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor[4] was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory. The battle was fought near Branxton, in the county of Northumberland, in northern England, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey.[5] In terms of troop numbers, it was the largest battle ever fought between the two kingdoms.[6]

After besieging and capturing several English border castles, James encamped his invading army on a commanding hilltop position at Flodden, awaited the English force that had been sent against him and declined a challenge to fight in an open field. Surrey's army, therefore, carried out a circuitous march to position themselves in the rear of the Scottish camp. The Scots countered that by abandoning their camp and occupying the adjacent Branxton Hill and denying it to the English.

The battle began with an artillery duel followed by a downhill advance by Scottish infantry armed with pikes. Unknown to the Scots, an area of marshy land lay in their path, which had the effect of breaking up their formations. That gave the English troops the chance to bring about a close-quarter battle for which they were better equipped. James IV was killed in the fighting and became the last monarch from Great Britain to die in battle. That and the loss of a large proportion of the nobility led to a political crisis in Scotland.

British historians sometimes use the Battle of Flodden to mark the end of the Middle Ages in the British Isles; another candidate is the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

The battlefield still looks much as it probably did at the time of the battle, but the burn and marsh which so badly hampered the Scots advance is now drained. A monument, erected in 1910, is easily reached from Branxton village by following the road past St Paul's Church. There is a small car park and a clearly marked and signposted battlefield trail with interpretive boards which make it easy to visualise the battle. Only the chancel arch remains of the medieval church where James IV's body was said to have rested after the battle – the rest is Victorian, dating from 1849 in the "Norman" style.

Each year, the neighbouring Scottish town of Coldstream marks the Battle of Flodden with a traditional horse ride to the battlefield and then having a service to mark all those who perished during the fight during the town's "Civic Week" – held in the first week of August."

Address

Flodden Field Memorial, Branxton, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland TD12 4SN

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Website

https://fabulousnorth.com/flodden-monument-and-battlefield/

https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/flodden-memorial-branxton-7369

https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/flodden-memorial-branxton/

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Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change. Dogs with responsible owners are welcome

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