Battle of Worksop facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Worksop
Part of the Wars of the Roses
Date 16 December 1460 Location Worksop in Nottinghamshire, England Result Lancastrian victory
Belligerents
House of York	House of Lancaster
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Duke of Somerset
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

The Battle of Worksop was a small fight that happened during the Wars of the Roses. It took place near the town of Worksop in Nottinghamshire, England, on December 16, 1460. This skirmish was part of a bigger military plan that led to the Battle of Wakefield a few weeks later. The Lancastrian side won this battle.

What Was the Battle of Worksop?

The Battle of Worksop was not a huge, main battle. Instead, it was a smaller clash, often called a "skirmish." It happened during the Wars of the Roses, which were a series of civil wars fought in England. These wars were between two important families: the House of York (who used a white rose as their symbol) and the House of Lancaster (who used a red rose).

A Glimpse into History

We don't have a lot of information about what exactly happened at Worksop. Most of what we know comes from a writer named William of Worcester. In his book Annales rerum Anglicarum, he wrote about the event.

He said that in December 1460, the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury were traveling. They were going from London to York with many armed men. A part of their group, perhaps the first soldiers or scouts, was attacked. They were cut off by the soldiers of the Duke of Somerset near Worksop.

Why Did This Battle Happen?

The Duke of Somerset, a leader for the Lancastrian side, was marching north. He had started from Corfe Castle in Dorset. His goal was to join the main Lancastrian army. This army was based in Hull before moving to Pontefract. We don't know how many soldiers Somerset had at Worksop. He had split his army to move faster.

The Yorkist soldiers, led by the Duke of York, were likely trying to reach Sandal Castle. It's not clear why they went through Worksop. This area was controlled by the Lancastrians. The closest place held by the Yorkists was Doncaster.

There might have been several reasons for the fight:

• Difficult Travel: There was a lot of flooding at the time. This would have made travel hard and food difficult to find. Worksop had a market every Thursday. The soldiers might have been looking for supplies there.
• Checking on Enemies: The Yorkists might have wanted to check on the Lancastrian forces. These forces were known to be around Worksop.
• Seeking Revenge: Another possible reason was revenge. The Earl of Shrewsbury and his younger brother Christopher Talbot had been killed. This happened at the Battle of Northampton earlier that year. The Earl of Shrewsbury had been given land that belonged to Richard of York. Also, Richard of York had a strong dislike for the Beaufort family. This was because of how the 2nd Duke of Somerset had handled battles in the Hundred Years' War.

What Evidence Remains?

There isn't much physical evidence of the battle itself. However, there is a piece of a skull in Worksop Priory. It has an old arrow tip, called a bodkin arrowhead, stuck in it. This skull can be seen by visitors. It is located in the north side of the church, towards the west end. This skull might be a silent reminder of the fighting that happened there.

Images for kids

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  A drawing showing a battle during the Wars of the Roses.