Battle of Ludford Bridge

Richard, Duke of York retreated his army towards Ludlow and made a stand near the village of Ludford, Shropshire, ready to battle on 12 October 1459. 

 

The Yorkist army dug a defensive ditch in a field on the side of the River Teme opposite Ludlow, near the bridge that gave its name to the battle. 

 

Morale was low in the Yorkist force; they knew they were heavily outnumbered and that Henry VI himself was leading the Lancastrian army, therefore they would be fighting directly against their King. 

 

The Yorkist soldiers commanded by Andrew Trollope, defected to the Lancastrian side along with their leader Trollope. 

 

Due to this Richard, Duke of York; Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick abandoned their armies overnight and fled. 

 

At dawn on 13 October, the Yorkist army, having no leadership, knelt in submission before Henry VI and were pardoned. 

 

The Battle of Ludford Bridge was no battle at all, but it still ended in a Lancastrian victory, however the Yorkist leaders would return to fight again. 

 

 

Fought - 12 October 1459 

 

Location - South of Ludlow, Shropshire 

 

Participants - House of York and House of Lancaster 

 

York, Unknown 

Lancaster, Unknown 

 

Richard, Duke of York 

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury 

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick 

 

Henry VI 

Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham 

 

Victory - House of Lancaster 

 

Unknown