Monument record 685/1 - Battle of Naseby Field (1645 AD)

The revamped Parliamentarian New Model Army under Thomas Fairfax set about besieging the King's capital at Oxford. The King decided to lure Fairfax away from Oxford by storming the Parliamentarian city of Leicester. Obligingly, Fairfax abandoned Oxford and by the morning of 14 June 1645 both armies were deployed between Market Harborough and Naseby. The Royalists advanced in full order of battle slowly across Broad Moor, their cavalry remaining in level with their foot. It was only when Fairfax moved the main body of his army up to the ridge-line above the advancing Royalists that the King's men saw the enormity of the task before them. The Parliamentarian army totalled 14,000 men against the King's army of 9,000. The Royalist left flank, under Prince Rupert, led a devastating attack on Colonel John Ireton's Horse. However, he had only routed part of the enemy and the surviving command turned on the Royalist foot. In the cavalry clash on the opposite wing, Cromwell's Ironsides overthrew Sir Marmaduke Langdale's Royalist Horse. In the center of the field, after an initial volley of musket fire, the New Model Army and the Royalist foot were locked in physical contact. The Royalists got the better of the physical combat and advanced towards Sir Henry Ireton' Horse. Supported by Colonel John Oakey's dragoons, Ireton led a charge against the Royalist flank. The charge allowed the New Model Army to hold their ground long enough for Cromwell to come to the rescue and deliver the final hammer blow. As the King's infantry collapsed, Charles I fled towards Hereford, the shattered army he left behind him surrendered. The site of the battle is a Registered Battlefield.

{1} Battle of Naseby centred at broad moor valley as shown on sketch map of battlefield. Plan.

{2} Plan.

{3} OS give grid refs SP685802 & 684802

{7} Plan.

{10} Plan.

{13} Correspondence between Mr. A. Hannan, county archaeologist, Glen Foard and Professor Woolrych over the affect of M1-A1 on the battlefield.

{14} Two clippings dated 21st and 27th June 1989 concerning move to the European Court to save the site from desecration through M1-A1 road. Early day motion at House of Commons with 35 M.P.'s signing…

{15} Article about M1-A1 effect on the battlefield. Michael Foot opposed to the road. Glen Foard against as well as saying that battlefields should be protected by law.

{16} Chronicle and Echo in the comment section on 20/8/92 says that M1-A1 is wrong. "In a way we are all to blame for situations like Naseby. As a nation we have paid only lip service to preserving many parts of our Heritage. Other countries cherish episodes in their development, with battlefields in particular, being major centres of attraction with facilities to match….we are paying the penalty for our indifference."

{17} Northampton Chronicle and Echo dated 20th August 1992. Battlefields register was attacked by Sir Charles Rowley as little more than useless…..

{18} Article 5/1/91 asking for a battlefields register.

{19} Article about painting of the battlefield painted only 25 years after the event. Purchased by Daventry District Council.

{20} Article dated May 29 1990 concerning campaign to stop the road campaign.

{21} Note in populist book about the commemoration of the battle of Naseby. Talks about both monuments to the battle etc.

{22} New Battle of Naseby memorial-its unveiling on 5th June 1936.

{23} An article in the Northampton Independent in May 1936. It anounces that there will be an unveiling of a new monument to the battle of Naseby.

{30} {1} Map showing location of all shot recovered from battlefield by metal detecting.

<1> Burne A.H., 1951, Battlefields of England, p.239-256 (unchecked) (Book). SNN12208.

<2> LOCKINGE H., 1830, Historical Gleanings on The Memorable Field of Naseby, (checked?) (Extract). SNN57406.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP68SE9 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> 1975, Correspondence, (checked?) (Correspondence). SNN57587.

<5> 1974, The Times, (checked?) (Article). SNN57269.

<6> Supplementary File, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN51737.

<7> Baker A., 1986, Battlefield Atlas of The English Civil War, p.91-5 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN47542.

<8> Panoramic View of The Battlefield, (checked) (Illustration). SNN54331.

<9> Historical Basis for Statements Made in Letter Concerning Naseby Battlefield, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105481.

<10> Rogers H.C.B., The Battle of Naseby, (unchecked) (Typescript Report). SNN105482.

<11> Bantock A.M.G.; Denton B., How Big Was Naseby Field: Some Facts, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105483.

<12> Young P.; Adair J., 1964, Hastings to Culloden, (unchecked) (Discussion). SNN60146.

<13> Woolrych A., 1991, Naseby: Interpretation of Layout of Forces, (checked?) (Correspondence). SNN43693.

<14> 1989, The Evening Telegraph, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43691.

<15> 1989, The Observer, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43692.

<16> 1992, The Chronicle and Echo, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43694.

<17> 1992, The Chronicle and Echo, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43695.

<18> 1991, The Weekend Telegraph, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43785.

<19> 1990, The Chronicle and Echo, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43786.

<20> 1990, The Times, (checked?) (Article). SNN43787.

<21> BILLING C., 1993, Northants Curiosities, (checked?) (Note). SNN43788.

<22> 1936, The Northampton Independent, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43789.

<23> 1936, The Northampton Independent, (checked?) (Journal). SNN43790.

<24> , BATTLE OF NASEBYE- CIVIL WAR EXHIBT VIDEO, (unchecked) (Video). SNN76949.

<25> Castle Vision, 1995, Naseby 1645 - The Triumph of the New Model Army (Campaigns In History Series), (unchecked) (Video). SNN76948.

<26> Marix-Evans M.; Burton P.; Westaway M., 2002, Naseby English Civil War - June 1645, (unchecked) (Book). SNN102295.

<27> FOARD G., 1995, Naseby: The Decisive Campaign, (unchecked) (Book). SNN72067.

<28> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1994, Proposed battlefields register: Naseby 1645, (unchecked) (Report). SNN71958.

<29> Vialls C.; Collins K. (Editors), 2004, A Georgian Country Parson: The Rev. John Mastin of Naseby (With a Note on The Battle of Naseby), (unchecked) (Series). SNN104919.

<30> Marix-Evans, M., 2009, Naseby Fall of Shot Map, (checked) (Map). SNN107338.

<31> George, T.J., 1904, A Naseby Anniversary: Visit to the Battle Field, (unchecked) (Article). SNN108810.

<32> Durning Whetham, C. & Dampier Whetham, W.C., 1907, A History of the Life of Colonel Nathaniel Whetham: A Forgotten Soldier of the Civil Wars, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109030.

<33> Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, 1990, The Battle of Naseby 1645, (unchecked) (Leaflet). SNN108694.

<34> NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HERITAGE, 1995, The Battle of Naseby 14th June 1645, (unchecked) (Leaflet). SNN108780.

<35> The British Archaeological Trust, 1982-2013, Rescue News, No. 51 p.7 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN75164.

<36> Guest K.; Guest D., 1996, British Battles, The Front Lines of History in Colour Photographs, p. 142-7 (Notes). SNN56089.

<37> SMURTHWAITE D., 1989, The Complete Guide to the Battlefields of Britain with Ordnance Survey maps, p. 166-169 (Extract). SNN62523.

<38> Historic England, Undated, The Battle of Naseby 1645, Naseby Battlefield, Northamptonshire, IC069 (Archive). SNN114217.

<39> English Heritage, 1995, English Heritage Battlefield Report: Naseby 1645 (Report). SNN115521.

Record last edited

Oct 13 2023 10:18AM