Commemorating the Battle of Towton 1461 - Monday, 21 March 2011
Britain’s oldest museum is staging a weekend of events to commemorate the bloodiest battle of the Wars of the Roses.
The event – on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 March – marks the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Towton, fought on Palm Sunday in 1461, near a Yorkshire village of the same name. Towton is remembered as the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil, with an estimated 50,000 soldiers from the Houses of Lancaster and York fighting it out in the midst of a snowstorm.
Museum visitors will be able examine artefacts from the battlefield, enjoy living history demonstrations, and participate in talks and handling sessions, conducted by the Towton Battlefield Society.
Other highlights include:
- Themed dramatic performances by costumed actors
- Children’s craft activities in the Jester’s Yard
The Royal Armouries is also running a further commemorative event on April 9 with a History in Your Hands Seminar. Learn more about the arms and armour of the period, find out how the battle unfolded and handle contemporary pieces from the Royal Armouries’ collections.
Royal Armouries’ Creative Director Peter Armstrong said, “The Battle of Towton has particular significance for us, as our headquarters are based in Yorkshire. This event promises to make history come alive for local people in a colourful and meaningful way.”
Museum entry is free. A small charge applies for some activities.
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Notes to editors
- Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour and has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London, Fort Nelson and Louisville, Kentucky. It is the first British national museum to open a permanent presence in another country
- Admission to the museum is free. However, there may be a small charge for some special events.
- Open all year daily, 10am-5pm. Closed 24-25 December
- Information Line: 0113 220 1999
- Website: www.royalarmouries.org
- The Royal Armouries Museum should not be confused with Royal Armouries International plc, the private sector corporate hospitality business.
Download the PDF press release.