Monument to Battle of Wakefield, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Photograph taken 05 April 2001 © Mr John Turner. Source Historic England Archive ref: 444630

A monument to the Battle of Wakefield built in 1897. The inscription reads 'Richard Plantagenet fell here December 30 1460'. The Battle of Wakefield was one of the many battles of the War of the Roses, it was here that Richard Duke of York, leader of the 'Yorkists' was killed. The nursery rhyme 'The Grand old Duke of York' has its origins in this battle. The Wars of the Roses were fought between 1455 and 1487. Members of the families of York and Lancaster fought for the throne of England.

Location

West Yorkshire Wakefield

Period

Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)

Themes

The Maiwand Memorial was put up in 1886 in the form of a cast iron statue of an enraged lion. It is 3 times life size. The inscription reads "This monument records the names and commemorates the valour and devotion of xi (11)officers and cccxviii (318) non-commissioned officers and men of the lxvi (66th) Berkshire Regiment who gave their lives for their country at Girisk, Maiwand and Kandahar during the Afghan campaign 1879-80 Read official list description.

Monument to Battle of Wakefield, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Location

Period

Themes

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