The Battle of Hedgley Moor 1464

This was a battle between the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster.

Lord Montagu, who was given the role of escort to some Scottish commissioners heading to meet King Edward VI at York, led the Yorkist's. Sir Ralph Percy, Lords Hungerford and Roos led the Lancastrians and they tried to ambush Montagu near Newcastle.

He evaded this first encounter because he had only a small force at his disposal. Montagu continued north, all the while gathering troops along the road. By the time a confrontation was finally reached at Hedgley his forces had grown considerably. Ranged against him were five thousand Lancastrians led by Sir Ralph Percy.

Before the battle Percy had been told he would not survive and that his death would be caused by the desertion of Hungerford and Loos. This turned out to be the case. The two lords fled at the first onset and the turncoat Percy fell at last, fighting, for a cause he had so often deserted.

The defeat allowed the Scots commissioners to peacefully proceed to York and there conclude their peace with Edward.

On Hedgley Moor itself two stone monoliths known as Percy's Leap mark the spot where Sir Ralph died and at Hedgley, just north of Glanton on the A697 is another memorial, Percy's Cross, a square stone shaft on a rounded base, bearing the Percy Arms.

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