The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

BATTLE OF BLORE HEATH

The Battle of Blore Heath took place on the 23rd of September 1459 during the Wars of the Roses between the Lancastrians under Lord Audley and the Yorkists under Lord Salisbury who was marching from Yorkshire to join the Duke of York at Ludlow. Lord Audley was ordered to intercept the Yorkist force and the two armies met head on two and a half miles east of Market Drayton at a place called Blore Heath. Lord Salisbury, with 3,000 troops was outnumbered by more than two to one, but could not avoid giving battle. Audley took up a position just west of a little stream that crosses the Market Drayton-Newcastle-under-Lyme road, and Salisbury's men were drawn up about 150 yards east of the present Audley Cross, which marks the spot where Lord Audley fell.

The Yorkist left rested upon the boggy edge of a wood, but their right was in the air and Salisbury made a laager of his wagons to protect this flank. Whether Lord Salisbury feigned retreat in order to draw Lord Audley on is not certain, but the Lancastrian commander was definitely the one to attack. Two cavalry charges were repulsed, the first with heavy loss to the Lancastrians and then they mounted an infantry attack up the hill to the Yorkist position. But this too failed; there was no support from the cavalry, Lord Audley had already fallen and 500 Lancastrians chose this moment to desert to the enemy. Salisbury's victory was complete and in the pursuit, which continued for two miles, the slaughter was heavy. Possibly 2000 Lancastrians perished in this battle, but less than 200 Yorkists fell.
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