News

Wars of the Roses Memorial Database Launched

29 March 2025

A new database about Wars of the Roses memorials has been launched to coincide with the anniversary of the 1461 battle of Towton by a group of organisations interested in that period of history.

The database, which currently has over 125 entries, can be accessed at https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/wotrmemorial/ and aims to record as many memorials as possible of individuals and places that played some part in the intermittent periods of war and rebellion which took place in England, Ireland, and Wales in the second half of the fifteenth century. 

Memorials on the database can be searched by key word or through using an interactive map, with filtering options making searching for specific memorials easier. Many of the memorials listed also include images.

Whilst the database is now publicly available, it is just the start of a process of recording memorials as anyone can submit new entries via an online form at https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/wotrmemorial/submit.asp.  

Simon Marsh, Research Coordinator for the Battlefields Trust said, ‘the aim is to create a crowd sourced heritage resource for use by everyone interested in this period of history’.

He added ‘working with such a supportive group of people who are passionate about the subject has been a delight and we are all proud of what has been achieved.’

‘We are hoping that people will add to the database over time and make the database an important tool to help the study of the period or encourage visits to these memorials.  

Project partners include the Battlefields Trust, Mortimer History Society, Northamptonshire Battlefields Society, Richard III Society, Tewkesbury Battlefield Society, and the Yorkist History Trust. 

The development of the database follows a similar project to record the memorials of the British Civil Wars.