A battle trail is being created in Boroughbridge, telling the story of the town’s turbulent past.
Several thousand soldiers converged on the town on March 16, 1322, when King Edward II’s troops defeated an uprising led by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.
Boroughbridge recently celebrated the 700th anniversary of the battle with a day of activities, including battlefield tours and re-enactments.
Now there are plans to create a trail that will enable visitors to discover for themselves all about the conflict.
Boroughbridge and District Historical Society and The Battlefields Trust have been collaborating on the initiative since 2019.
The project received £15,000 from the developer Miller Homes, in part-mitigation for being allowed to develop on land adjacent to the battlefield site.
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The history society asked if the trust could produce five information boards.
Chris Rock, the trust’s Yorkshire regional chair, subsequently designed the boards and Louise Whittaker, a trustee, wrote the text.
One of the five information boards.
The boards were then discussed and proof-checked by the historical society, and mock-up boards were shown during the 700th anniversary celebrations.
The organisations are now awaiting planning permission from Harrogate Borough Council to install the boards.
They are due to be erected on either side of the bridge, near Milby Lock, at the Aldborough Road entrance to the footpath leading down to the south bank of the river, and in St James’s Square.
Ms Whittaker said:
“They are intended to be standalone boards as well as forming part of a battlefield trail, and so include the same information at both ends of the board, with a central section specific to the area where it is located.
“Chris and I have also produced a battlefield trail leaflet to accompany the boards, and this will be launched at the same time as they are unveiled.”
