Battlefields That Shaped English History

Join Michael Rayner as he reveals what modern landscapes, written sources and archaeology can tell us about the history of England’s battlefields.

England has been the scene of conflict for centuries, with invasions and civil wars shaping the nation’s history. The locations of these desperate struggles vary significantly, from rural fields to towns and fortresses, and encompass land, sea and air combat.

Today, these sites serve as important places for commemoration, reflection and historic research.

In this talk, Michael Rayner will show how recent research has transformed our understanding and interpretation of several English battlefields, including Bosworth, Stow-on-the-Wold, Winwick and Edgcote. 

About the speaker

Michael Rayner is the Chair of the Battlefields Trust’s Battlefield Panel and a member of Historic England’s Expert Advisory Group. He has been at the forefront of battlefield preservation and interpretation in the UK for over 30 years, having helped establish the Battlefields Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting battlefield sites across the UK. He is also the author of ‘English Battlefields: 500 Battlefields That Shaped English History’.