Battle of Marston Moor 1644
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Battlefield
- List Entry Number:
- 1000020
- Date first listed:
- 06-Jun-1995
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Battlefield
- List Entry Number:
- 1000020
- Date first listed:
- 06-Jun-1995
- Location Description:
- MARSTON MOOR
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This list entry identifies a battlefield which is registered because of its special historic interest.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This list entry identifies a battlefield which is registered because of its special historic interest.
Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- North Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Long Marston
- District:
- North Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Tockwith
- District:
- North Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Bilton-in-Ainsty with Bickerton
- District:
- North Yorkshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Wilstrop
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 48727 52446
Details
BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR
1644
The Civil Wars of the mid seventeenth century were a reflection of profound political, constitutional, religious and social conflict which was expressed in a struggle for control between King and Parliament.
With the Royalist stronghold of York under siege by allied Parliamentarian and Scottish forces, Prince Rupert led a relieving force from the main Royalist army in the midlands. Having successfully raised the siege, Prince Rupert offered battle on 2 July on Marston Moor.
It was 7o'clock in the evening when the Parliamentarian army suddenly rushed forward. Oliver Cromwell's cavalry beat both the first line of Royalist cavalry and reinforcements under Prince Rupert himself. Circling behind the Royalists, Cromwell created chaos and disorder until the King's forces scattered, except for a defiant last stand by the best of the Royalist infantry, the Whitecoats.
Marston Moor was enclosed only after 1766; before then it was too wet for anything but summer pasture and only the land south of the Tockwith-Long Marston road was suitable for cultivation in largely hedgeless open fields. The boundary ditch and hedge between wet and dry ground however, was an important feature in the battle.
AMENITY FEATURES
The battlefield obelisk on the Marston-Tockwith road is centrally placed and features an interpretation panel. Greater public access to the remainder of the battlefield would be desirable. The curving E-W hedge leading westwards from Atterwith Lane is of historical importance. Fox Covert, where there are ancient hedgerows, has been identified as the site of the Whitecoats' last stand.
OTHER DESIGNATIONS
Most of the battlefield is subject to policies relating to Open Countryside in the emerging Local Plan. Tockwith is a Conservation Area and Wilstrop Wood is Ancient Woodland. The eastern part of the battlefield lies with the York Green Belt.
KEY SOURCES
Newman, P, 1981, The Battle of Marston Moor 1644
Young, P, 1970, Marston Moor, the campaign and battle
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment to the Selected Sources on 10/04/2019
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 21
- Legacy System:
- Battlefields
Sources
Websites
English Heritage Battlefield Report: Battle of Marston Moor 1644 (Published 1995), accessed 10th April 2019 from https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/marston-moor/
Legal
This battlefield is registered within the Register of Historic Battlefields by Historic England for its special historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 18-Jun-2026 at 13:22:55.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.