Battle of Hexham – 15 May 1464

Lord Montagu, having delivered the Scottish ambassadors to York, rode north to Newcastle to face Somerset who had re-grouped following the débâcle at Hedgeley. Stopping briefly at Newcastle, Montagu left the city and headed west along the Tyne towards Hexham, probably crossing the river at either Bywell or Corbridge.  Somerset, with a much smaller host than Montagu, chose his ground above the burn known as Devil’s Water. This was probably in the Dilston area and possibly close to Swallowship Hill although the Ordnance Survey map offers an alternative site. It appears that the battle was brief, with the Lancastrians giving way to the superior forces of Montagu. Somerset was captured and executed the next day at Hexham and his captains, Roos and Hungerford, a day or so later. This was the end of any serious Lancastrian resistance and King Edward could now rule his entire kingdom.

Shields of some of the participants

Further Reading:

‘The Battle of Hexham 1464’ by Dorothy Charlesworth from Archaeologia Aeliana, 4th Series, Vol 30 1952.  The course of the battle, and the events leading up to it.