The Battle of Shrewsbury

Where in Shrewsbury was the Battlefield?

The exact location of the Battle of Shrewsbury is still uncertain. Some believe it took place in Harlescott, perhaps in the area of the present day ‘Sentinel Works’ building. However, the Royal charter for Battlefield church states that it was built on the site of the battlefield. A recent field survey using metal detectors organised by archaeologists from the television series ‘Two Men in a Trench’ did find several metal artefacts suggestive of arrowheads. Today the site around Battlefield is protected as a Heritage Park.

The traditional account of the battle suggests that the rebel troops under the leadership of Henry Percy were stationed somewhere on this ridge. The photograph looks back towards Shrewsbury and shows the gradual rise in the land. The Royal troops under King Henry the Fourth are thought to have approached the rebels across the lower ground.