Battle of Shrewsbury

Visit the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury - ‘Battlefield Heritage Park’

King Henry IV
King Henry IV was born in Bollingbroke castle and most of his reign was spent fighting and squashing rebellions mainly from Wales and particularly Henry Percy, who was the Earl of Northumberland, and had initially supported Henry in his claim to the throne but was not satisfied with his reward and therefore rebelled against him, which resulted in the Battle of Shrewsbury 21st July 1403, and involved 24,000 men.

Shrewsbury battlefield is just 3 miles north from the centre of Shrewsbury and covers roughly an area of 100 acres; information panels are displayed around the site - ‘Battlefield Walk’ (it is one of 43 battlefield sites in England and Wales).  The battle was one of the bloodiest in English history - King Henry IV -v- Sir Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy, Earl of Northumberland.

Today the site includes a farm shop, butchery, deli, cafe and a visitor/exhibition centre - where you can read all about the battle and its role in initiating the Wars of the Roses.  There is a church ‘St Mary’s’ which was built shortly after the battle upon the request of King Henry IV.

Trains depart from London’s Euston station to Shrewsbury and take approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes.