Medieval conflict database 'keeps folklore alive'

Simon Marsh said the database would broaden understanding of historic sites related to the War of the Roses

A new database documenting monuments to a 15th Century English conflict will keep alive the "folklore of local legends", a historian said.

The War of the Roses took place 1455-1487, with the Battle of Northampton - on the grounds of Delapre Abbey - among its most decisive moments.

Led by the Battlefields Trust, the database highlights key sites and memorials relating to the war, which occurred between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet — the House of York and the House of Lancaster.

Simon Marsh from the Battlefields Trust said the database would help people "interested in local history to find out a little bit more about it".

The Battle of Northampton was won by Yorkist forces, which saw Edward IV rule 1461-1470

"It [the database] helps people understand some other aspects [of the War of the Roses]," he said.

"Battlefields are often seen as just a field, but if you have a memorial there, it gives something for people to focus on and understand and brings that site to life."

One example of folklore/legend was the tale of a horse's shoes being put on backwards to fool enemies into thinking it was being ridden in the opposite direction.

The conflict ended with Henry VII's defeat of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in Leicestershire - ushering in the Tudor era.

Entries in the database range from the recently installed tomb of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral, to stained glass windows, plaques and more recent interpretation panels at noteworthy locations.

The online guide allows users to search for these by memorial type, allegiance, or location.

The database was launched with an event at Delapre Abbey - the site of the Battle of Northampton in 1460

Speaking at an event at Delapre Abbey to launch the database, David Grummit, a historian from the Open University, said: "People think of the War of the Roses as one continuous war, a bit like the Games of Thrones.

"But actually over 35 years of conflict, there was only about three or four months of active fighting."

He said: "The database can help people to understand their heritage and how the conflict shaped their locality over time."

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

Edward IV then became a Yorkist king.

The new database - constructed with the help of a range of history societies - already has more than 150 records and further submissions are invited from the public.