Battle of Tewkesbury Site

The battlefield where the Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians on 4 May 1471 lies immediately south of Tewkesbury town centre, in fields that remain largely undeveloped. The battle was short — over in a couple of hours — but decisive, ending Lancastrian military resistance to Yorkist rule and securing Edward IV's throne.

An interpretation panel at the battlefield site explains the engagement and marks the positions of the main forces. The fields can be walked, and the view from the battlefield back toward the abbey tower gives a sense of the town's relationship to the fighting. The Tewkesbury Museum has more detailed coverage of the battle and its aftermath.

things to do sight
A story
Among those killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury was Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales — the only heir to the English throne to die in battle. He was 17 years old. His death ended the direct Lancastrian line and made Edward IV's Yorkist hold on the throne effectively unassailable. The Lancastrian king Henry VI was murdered in the Tower of London shortly afterwards.