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Battle of Neville's Cross
17th October 1346
The battle of Neville’s Cross, between Scottish and English forces, took place on 17th October 1346, on moorland just to the west of Durham. The two armies clashed on the narrow ridge close to Neville's Cross. The English had already chosen the best ground before the Scots could assemble their army and so the invaders found themselves severely disadvantaged by the terrain. Despite the battle being evenly balanced for a time, the Scots were out manoeuvred and gradually fled the field, all but abandoning their King.
The battle of Neville’s Cross was disastrous for the Scots. Not only was their King captured and imprisoned and many men lost, but the following year the English pursued their advantage and were able to occupy almost the whole of Scotland south of the Forth and the Clyde.
The battlefield is extensively developed on the eastern side, though the area around Crossgate Moor (as shown on the modern Ordnance Survey Explorer map), on which some of the action may have taken place, is still undeveloped. The land on the west remains largely agricultural. A railway line dissects the southern half of the battlefield running east to west in a cutting 30m deep and 80m wide. Access is possible by car and on foot and there are sufficient public footpaths to enable much of the battlefield to be walked, a waymarked battlefield trail having been laid out with interpretation panels and a published leaflet. The remains of the Cross is situated within the urban area.
THIS ENTRY IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AS RECENT ACADEMIC WORK HAS SUGGESTED THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT TO THE NORTH OF THE CURRENT REGISTERED AREA
KEY FACTS
Name: Battle of Neville’s Cross
Type: Battle
Campaign: Neville’s Cross Campaign
War period: Medieval (Hundred Years War)
Outcome: major English victory
Country: England
County: Durham
Place: Crossgate / Bear Park
Location: accurate
Terrain: upland moor
Date: 17th October 1346
Start: either 9:00am or 12:00
Duration: several hours
Armies: Scottish; English
Numbers: Scottish: about 10-15,000; English: about 700 men at arms & 10,000 archers and other troops
Losses: Scottish: about 1000 killed and many captured; English: probably few.
Grid Reference: NZ260424 (426000,542400)
OS Landranger map: 88
OS Explorer map: 308
Historic England Battlefields Register CLICK HERE
Historic England battlefield report for Battle of Neville's Cross 1346
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