The Naseby Battlefield Project
Mark Linnell, Chair of the Naseby Battlefield Project, explains why Naseby is ‘the most important place you have never heard of’ and what the charity is doing to change just that.
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Can you explain what the Naseby Battlefield Project is and how it began?
The Naseby Battlefield Project (NBP) was formed in 2001 and became an official charity in 2007. The Project is run entirely by volunteers and our work is to excite, promote and educate as many people as we can to protect the battlefield and interpret our heritage. Funds have been raised for the refurbishment of sites such as the Cromwell Monument and the Obelisk Monument, close to Sibbertoft and Naseby, and their integration into the Naseby Battlefield Tour with further viewpoints, interpretation panels, walks and parking facilities. You can see us at local heritage fairs, on our public tours, in schools and speaking at nationwide events. The people who support us by being patrons, trustees, landowners, charities, museums, teachers and volunteers are the critical to our mission, too. Our main partners are the landowners who own and farm the extensive area where the battle took place. They voluntarily give us special access and there are some specific pathways for us and our visitors to use. In addition to the landowners, we have viewpoints and interpretation boards on land owned by Northamptonshire County Council and Harborough District Council. Both councils partner with us to assist in getting a better understanding of the causes, effects and long-term consequences of the Battle of Naseby. What do you currently offer for people wanting to find out more about the battle? The NBP has hosted public tours for thousands of visitors, and it has provided education and training for the local community, schools and military units from the UK and US. We currently offer eight public tours a year for up to 25 people for £25 per person (children under 16 go free).We also conduct bespoke tours for organisations such as the military, schools and universities. On the tours we explain the significance of the Battle of Naseby. The shift in power that unfolded that day unleashed political, economic, military, and social changes that propelled Britain to world leadership over the next 100 years. It gave birth to parliamentary democracy, on which much of the modern world now models itself. It paved the way for the freer generation and flow of capital and ideas that fostered scientific and industrial revolutions. It gave birth to the modern British Army, and it gave voice to the great British dissenting tradition, directly informing the notions of freedoms that led to the establishment of the United States of America. In addition, we explain why the battle happened and detail how it happened, as opposed to merely what happened. What are your plans for the project? The future for us is to grow our audience and to include many of the youth groups and veterans’ communities to become Friends of Naseby, where they will be able to benefit from our tours and events programmes, and research projects. The Battle of Naseby has influenced the lives of many people, over many years, in many parts of the world. However to many (if not most) people, Naseby remains unfamiliar. The battle isn’t a commonly ‘known’ event, 1645 isn’t a year we’re taught at school, and Naseby isn’t a place many could readily point to on a map. We want to change this. The notion that an historically pivotal event took place in a now-forgotten field, makes it all the more remarkable. It transforms Naseby from a dot on the map, a small rural village, to the cradle of modern Britain. The idea that this tiny village might in fact wear the scars of a battle that changed the course of history, is something worth investigating further. We believe that people like plot twists, dark horses, and uncovered truths. Just as antiques are occasionally dredged up from dusty attics to fetch extravagant prices, so with Naseby we might wonder ‘how did such a pivotal battle just lie there unappreciated for all these years?’. The fact that it has been overlooked only emphasises its significance and makes it more of a story worth telling. This year, the trustees have implemented a number of exciting initiatives including; a partnership with Market Harborough Tours, appearing on local radio and specialist podcasts and the creation of our first Tripadvisor page. We are over the moon to have received 20 five-star reviews in just a few short months. It is worth noting that 2025 is the 380th anniversary of the battle and the NBP is working on a number of exciting initiatives to commemorate this event next year – so watch this space! How can readers get involved? We are always on the lookout for volunteers and have growing base of committed supporters, who have all been on a tour with us to experience first-hand our passion and belief in what and we are doing. We have a variety of volunteer options available from training to be a tour guide to helping out on the battlefield itself. All the information on what opportunities we have, and how to contact us, can be found on the website: naseby.com We would love people to come on our tours and experience for themselves the importance in world history of the Battle of Naseby. The Battle of Naseby On June 14th, 1645, the Battle of Naseby occurred during the first English Civil War, near Naseby village in Northamptonshire. The Parliamentarian New Model Army, led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, decimated the main Royalist forces commanded by Charles I and Prince Rupert. In this crucial battle, the 14,000-strong Parliamentarian army confronted a Royalist force of fewer than 9,000 men. Despite King Charles’ confidence in his veteran troops’ ability to defeat the relatively inexperienced Parliamentarians, the outcome was devastating for the Royalists. The Royalist army suffered 6,000 casualties, including 1,000 killed and 5,000 captured, compared to only 400 Parliamentarians killed or wounded. The Royalists lost the majority of their veteran infantry, including 500 officers, all their artillery, numerous arms, and even the king’s personal baggage. This crushing defeat shattered any realistic prospects of a Royalist victory, although Charles I did not formally surrender until May 1646. The triumph of the New Model Army at Naseby was a turning point in the English Civil War, leading to a series of victories and the execution of the King. |
Issue 22
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