Wakefield    -    30th December 1460

On December 30th, 1460, the heirs of the Lancastrian Nobles killed at St. Albans found themselves able to avenge their father's deaths when their army trapped the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury in Sandal Castle, near Wakefield. Lured out from the safety of the castle walls and into open battle, York's heavily outnumbered force found themselves surrounded and in the fierce melee that followed, York and many of his followers lost their lives, his son, Edmund, amongst them.

The Earl of Salisbury was captured and taken to Pontefract by the Duke of Somerset where he was summarily executed, his head joining those of the other Yorkist leaders over the gates of York.

However, the Lancastrian triumph was to be short lived, for they were almost totally annihilated three months later at the battle of Towton. 

Ferrybridge    -    28th March 1461

After proclaiming himself king, Edward IV gathered together a large army and headed north towards the Lancastrian forces positioned across the River Aire.  The forces engaged on 28th March, 1461 at Ferrybridge and at first the Yorkist army were pushed back and their leader, Lord Fitzwalter, was killed.  Later that day however, more Yorkist forces arrived and they eventually beat back the Lancastrians.

The following day the Yorkists attacked the Lancastrians and were victorious at the battle of Towton, regarded as one of the bloodiest battles in our history