Abbey hosts War of the Roses battle anniversary

Delapre Abbey stands on site of the Battle of Northampton

A day of events is set to get underway to commemorate the 564th anniversary of a major battle of the Wars of the Roses.

The Battle of Northampton took place on 10 July 1460 on the grounds of Delapre Abbey.

It will host a medieval hawking display, reenactors, and guided tours of the battlefield with Northamptonshire Battlefields Society.

Eleanor Sier from Delapre Abbey said it was a "fantastic opportunity... to engage with our local history".

The Battle of Northampton took place during the War of the Roses

Taking place between 1455 and 1487, the War of the Roses was a series of civil wars which occurred between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet; the House of York and the House of Lancaster.

In the Battle of Northampton the Yorkist forces, led by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated the Lancastrians, capturing King Henry VI.

The wars eventually ended with the final victory going to Lancastrian Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII.

Graham Evans, who chairs the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society said the Battle of Northampton "was a crucial turning point in the Wars of the Roses and demonstrated the importance of our town at the time".

"It's great to be able to make the most of this opportunity to celebrate our heritage," he added.