Ferrybridge- battles, henges and flyovers



Ferrybridge



Ferrybridge isn’t everyone’s idea of a day out.  In fact most people don’t notice the village at all.  They’re too busy looking at the power station as they hurtle along the A1. Today the place is an island surrounded by fast flowing traffic and a spider’s web of flyovers and tarmac. 

There is, apparently, a Neolithic henge here.  Unfortunately, due to our poor navigation skills we found ourselves wandering around a housing estate and then heading briskly towards the A1.  We gave up in the end. It clearly isn’t on the same scale as Stonehenge.

The real reason for visiting Ferrybridge was due to the battle that took place here in 1461 on the 28^th of March- the day before the more famous Battle of Towton- rather than a desire to walk amidst the sound of roaring traffic or to enjoy a close up view of a powerstation that can be seen for miles around. 

Take yourself back in time.  It’s three months since the Battle of Wakefield.  The Duke of York’s head and that of his twelve year old son, Edmund, are on display in York.  Despite this, the Lancastrians have been kept out of London and have had to come north once more.  They are being pursued by Edward of York – he wants revenge for the death of his father and brother.  It is not a good time to be living in this part of Yorkshire.

Lord Fitzwalter is sent by Edward to find a way across the River Aire.  There is a bridge at Ferrybridge.  Fitzwalter arrives; it all looks very peaceful- birds singing that sort of thing- and orders camp to be made.  Crucially, he fails to set adequate guards before taking himself off to his tent to catch up on his beauty sleep.  The following morning he gets a very nasty surprise in the form of Lord Clifford and his cavalry- a bunch of Lancastrians.  It doesn’t look good for the Yorkists.  It definitely isn’t good for Lord Fitzwalter who pays for his carelessness with his life. 

Lord Clifford very sensibly destroyed the bridge that was here all those centuries ago and made sure that his archers were lined up to prevent the Yorkists from setting up the medieval equivalent of a bailey bridge but despite his efforts the Yorkists crossed the river three miles further up led by Lord Fauconberg.  Clifford, the man who killed twelve year old Edmund of York in revenge for the death of his own father at the Battle of St Albans attempted to retreat but was killed before reaching the Lancastrian camp.  The Yorkists were able to head north.  The scene is set for the 29^th March and one of the bloodiest battles that has ever happened on English soil.

The bridge that we crossed no longer takes traffic.  Its claim to fame is that its part of the old Great North Road. 

You’d have to be keen on battlefields to visit though.