Sandal Castle and the Battle of Wakefield
Updated: 2 days ago
Sandal Castle and the Battle of Wakefield – The Fall of the Duke of York
There are some places where it's difficult to imagine the history that happened there.
Sandal Castle isn't one of them.
Stand among the ruins looking out across Wakefield and the surrounding countryside and it still feels like a place that ought to have a story to tell.
Lyn and I have walked around Sandal Castle and the surrounding area, and knowing what happened here in the winter of 1460 makes the ruins considerably more interesting.
Because this was where Richard, Duke of York — one of the most powerful men in
England — met his end.
The Wars of the Roses Come to Wakefield
By the end of 1460, England was deep in the struggle we now call the Wars of the Roses.
On one side stood the Lancastrian King Henry VI (a weak little man) and his supporters. On the other was Richard, Duke of York. ( Hell of a guy)
Richard wasn't simply another rebellious nobleman. He had a claim to the English throne and, following the Yorkist victory at Northampton earlier that year, had returned from Ireland and formally asserted it.
A compromise known as the Act of Accord allowed Henry VI to remain king for life, but recognised Richard and his descendants as heirs to the throne.
There was an obvious problem.
Henry already had a son.
And Queen Margaret of Anjou (don't talk to me about Margaret of Anjou) wasn't about to quietly accept her son's inheritance being taken away.
Richard Comes to Sandal Castle
As Lancastrian strength grew in the north of England, Richard headed north with an army of his own.
By December he had reached Sandal Castle, standing on high ground overlooking the Calder valley just outside Wakefield.
The castle was a serious medieval stronghold. Historic England describes it as a substantial motte-and-bailey castle which had later been rebuilt in stone, and it was associated with the Dukes of York.
From its position above Wakefield, Richard had an impressive defensive position.
So what happened next has puzzled historians ever since.
Why Did York Leave the Castle?
On or around 30 December 1460, Richard's forces left the security of Sandal Castle and engaged the Lancastrians.Why? That's where things become less certain.
Over the centuries there have been suggestions that York was tricked, that he underestimated the size of the Lancastrian army, that he believed reinforcements had arrived, or simply that circumstances forced him to fight.
There's even modern historical research questioning parts of the familiar story, including whether the fighting and Richard's death happened exactly as traditionally described.
What isn't in doubt is the outcome.
It was disastrous for York.
The Battle of Wakefield
The Yorkist army was overwhelmed.
Richard, Duke of York, was killed, and so too were a number of important Yorkist supporters.
A monument near Sandal Castle erected centuries later carries the simple inscription recording the traditional date:
“Richard Plantagenet fell here December 30 1460.”
For a man who had come remarkably close to becoming King of England, it was a brutal end.
But Richard's death didn't finish the House of York.
Far from it.
His eldest surviving son was Edward, Earl of March. ( Bull of a Man )
And Edward was about to become rather important.
And What About Richard's Younger Son?
Richard's 17-year-old son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, had also been with him at Wakefield.
Edmund would not survive the day either.
According to the traditional story, he attempted to escape towards Wakefield but was caught and killed — with Lord Clifford ( bad egg ) becoming forever associated with his death.
nd this is where our story starts moving away from Sandal Castle and towards another place Lyn and I have walked.
Wakefield Bridge.
We’ll save Edmund, Clifford and what supposedly happened there for the next story.
So you’re going to have to hold your horses until next time.
Walking Around Sandal Castle
Today Sandal Castle is largely ruined, but enough survives to understand its commanding position above the surrounding landscape.
You can still see the remains of the motte, shell keep, barbican and other castle buildings, and the elevated position gives extensive views towards Wakefield.
When Lyn and I walked here, it was exactly the sort of place that makes The White Shire interesting to us.
You can enjoy it simply as a Yorkshire walk.
But once you know that Richard, Duke of York stood here during one of the most dramatic episodes of the Wars of the Roses, you're looking at the landscape rather differently.
The Grand Old Duke of York?
There’s another interesting connection to Richard, Duke of York.
You’ll probably know the old nursery rhyme:
“The Grand Old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men…”
Richard has long been suggested as one possible inspiration for the rhyme, and the Battle of Wakefield is sometimes linked to the story of the Duke marching his men up and down a hill.
Sandal Castle certainly gives the idea some appeal. Richard was positioned on high ground at the castle before bringing his army down to fight the Lancastrians below.
Whether the rhyme really came from what happened here is another matter. Its exact origins are uncertain and other Dukes of York have also been suggested.
But if it was about Richard, Duke of York, it does seem a little mean...
Castle Café
If you fancy something to eat or a brew while visiting, the Castle Café is right on the Sandal Castle site. The family-run café serves breakfasts, lunches, cakes and other refreshments, making it a handy stop before or after exploring the ruins. It’s also dog friendly.
Sandal Castle and the Battle of Wakefield
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