Residents and guests at Highfield Care Home in Tadcaster enjoyed a fascinating historical presentation about the famous Battle of Towton, one of the most significant battles in English medieval history during the 15th century Wars of the Roses. The talk was presented by local historian Chris Berendt, founder of Our History Explored and former chairman of Towton Battlefield Society.
Mr Berendt explained the storied history of the Wars of the Roses, and how the armies of King Edward IV’s House of York and King Henry VI’s House of Lancaster battled against eachother in 1461 outside the small village of Towton, North Yorkshire, in what is often regarded as the deadliest battle ever on English soil. The battle and larger war also served as the inspiration for the award-winning and widely acclaimed television series, ‘Game of Thrones’. In addition to explaining the lead-up and events of the battle, Mr Berendt also brought along a selection of historical artefacts from the period, including weaponry, battle armor and clothing.
Highfield residents and guests during the presentation loved learning about the history of the battle and particularly enjoyed holding and looking at the various historical items. Among the many historical pieces were: a 15th century longsword; an archer’s longbow and falchion sword; a selection of medieval daggers; a knight’s mace and poleaxe; and a selection of knight armour pieces. Activities Coordinator, Neil Barnard, even tried on some of the armour pieces and roleplayed as a medieval knight from the battle.
As the founder of Our History Explored, an organisation dedicated to sharing and archiving local history, Mr Berendt was able to share his extensive knowledge about the period and his centuries-old archive of historical accounts of the battle. His passionate and engaging presentation captivated the audience, as he explained how the late arrival of reinforcements from John Mowbray, the Duke of Norfolk, turned the tide of the battle at the pivotal moment and ensured victory for the Yorkists, with Edward IV being crowned King of England in the aftermath – one of the most significant moments in English medieval history.
Deputy Manager of Highfield, Jordon Carr, said: “Our residents and the guest visitors found the historical presentation to be a fantastic experience. Chris was able to share his historical knowledge in a fun and interactive way, which made residents feel engaged and eager to learn about such an important piece of English history. We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Highfield as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this event was loved by all who attended. Our residents can’t wait to welcome Mr Berendt back for another historical presentation.”
Highfield care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Highfield provides residential care, palliative care and dementia care for 66 residents from respite care to long-term stays.
