Once upon a time, in 1471 ...
Half a millenium ago, in England there was a small disagreement over the colour of roses ...
Being as how we're so very invested in our gardening, this was clearly a big issue and even today the conflict continues. Witness a field on the edge of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, in the (very English) summer of 2011. Between showers of sometimes torrential rain, the forces of the houses of York and Lancaster took to the battlefield to dispute the superiority of white against red. ;)
Just a few photos to give a flavour, because I have 800!!!!! photos to sort through. Apart from the Archery contest and the falconry display before the main event, I just took photos constantly for the hour and more that the battle raged before us. Fortunately, having found a good place for the falconry, we were at the front of the standing crowd and almost in the centre of the battlefield, so that quite often, the lines met right in front of us.
It was noisy. (A Yorkist cannon.)
There was a lot of standing around, with occasional glimpses of the sun. (The Yorkist forces.)
And then battle was joined. (Prince Edward advances with the Lancastrian forces.)
But in the end, there could be only one victor ...
(King Edward IV (York) delivers the death blow to Prince Edward (Lancaster) the 17 yr old son of Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI (Lancaster). Note paramedics supervising the action.)
The reality of the battle of 1471 makes for grim telling. The Lancastrian forces were routed and some sought sanctuary in the Abbey which would be considered neutral ground and sacrosanct. The Yorkist forces apparently entered the Abbey and dragged them to the steps outside where they were executed.
We didn't go into the town for the denouement at the Abbey, but headed home after the end of the battle, emptying our pockets into rattling buckets on the way out, because this incredible spectacle - 2 days of it - is free. Really a fantastic spectacle, along with the dozens of stalls selling various mediaeval essentials, such as hand-blown tankards, rabbit pelts and, of course, a wide variety of arms and armour.
Before anyone asks, I have to admit that I could not quite be the impartial spectator, since my maternal grandmother was an Entwhistle and though standing in the middle of the designated supporters of the House of York, I just had to voice support for the House of Lancaster as they marched past to their battle positions. Fortuitously I was wearing red. ;)
Stand by for more photos when I've finished sorting them. I'm sticking them in a Tewkesbury 2011 Flickr set and I'll put the best up once I'm done, but I'm generally pleased with them.
Being as how we're so very invested in our gardening, this was clearly a big issue and even today the conflict continues. Witness a field on the edge of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, in the (very English) summer of 2011. Between showers of sometimes torrential rain, the forces of the houses of York and Lancaster took to the battlefield to dispute the superiority of white against red. ;)
Just a few photos to give a flavour, because I have 800!!!!! photos to sort through. Apart from the Archery contest and the falconry display before the main event, I just took photos constantly for the hour and more that the battle raged before us. Fortunately, having found a good place for the falconry, we were at the front of the standing crowd and almost in the centre of the battlefield, so that quite often, the lines met right in front of us.
It was noisy. (A Yorkist cannon.)
There was a lot of standing around, with occasional glimpses of the sun. (The Yorkist forces.)
And then battle was joined. (Prince Edward advances with the Lancastrian forces.)
But in the end, there could be only one victor ...
(King Edward IV (York) delivers the death blow to Prince Edward (Lancaster) the 17 yr old son of Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI (Lancaster). Note paramedics supervising the action.)
The reality of the battle of 1471 makes for grim telling. The Lancastrian forces were routed and some sought sanctuary in the Abbey which would be considered neutral ground and sacrosanct. The Yorkist forces apparently entered the Abbey and dragged them to the steps outside where they were executed.
We didn't go into the town for the denouement at the Abbey, but headed home after the end of the battle, emptying our pockets into rattling buckets on the way out, because this incredible spectacle - 2 days of it - is free. Really a fantastic spectacle, along with the dozens of stalls selling various mediaeval essentials, such as hand-blown tankards, rabbit pelts and, of course, a wide variety of arms and armour.
Before anyone asks, I have to admit that I could not quite be the impartial spectator, since my maternal grandmother was an Entwhistle and though standing in the middle of the designated supporters of the House of York, I just had to voice support for the House of Lancaster as they marched past to their battle positions. Fortuitously I was wearing red. ;)
Stand by for more photos when I've finished sorting them. I'm sticking them in a Tewkesbury 2011 Flickr set and I'll put the best up once I'm done, but I'm generally pleased with them.