Naseby Battlefield Trail - Fairfax's Viewpoint - Naseby, Northamptonshire - UK Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

An information board and map near 'Fairfax's Viewpoint' set in the middle of the Northamptonshire countryside, commemorating the Battle of Naseby of 1645.

The board tells us:

"The decisive battle of the English Civil War was fought in the fields of Naseby, Sulby, Sibberstoft and Clipsham parishes on Saturday 14 June 1645. The Parliamentarian New Model Army (visit link) , under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax (visit link) , defeated the Royalist army, commanded by King Charles I (visit link) and Prince Rupert of the Rhine (visit link) .

Cavalry patrols clashed on the evening of 13 June in Naseby village. Early on Saturday 14 June Fairfax marched the New Model Army north from Guilsborough towards Naseby to meet at Naseby windmill (visit link). By 8:00 am King Charles and Rupert had moved the royal army to a position on the ridge between East Farndon and Little Oxendon. The view north from the windmill is limited by the rising ground, so Fairfax and his commander of horse, Oliver Cromwell (visit link), had to ride to the edge of the steep hill overlooking Clipston to look for their enemies.

Fairfax's Viewpoint:
The countryside was mainly of large, open fields without the hedges and woods. The Parliamentarian generals, who were close to this viewing platform, could see the Royalist army on the distant ridgeto the north and wanted to draw them into a fight. Realising their own hill was too difficult for Rupert to attack, they ordered the New Model Army westward, to their left. onto more high ground south of the open, shallow Broadmoor valley. Prince Rupert saw them on the march as they came over this ridge and ordered his army to Dust Hil, north of Broadmoor, to offer battle"