I would imagine most of us have crawled up Sutton Bank behind a lorry hoping we wouldn’t stall, but did you know it was the scene of an important battle in early 14th century?
The Normans recognised the promontory above the Nidd as a superb place to build a castle. In 1129 Henry the First spent £11 on strengthening the ‘King’s Works at Knaresborough’ and was important in his campaigns against the Scots.
About 1204 King John spent a further £1,290 turning Knaresborough Castle into a military fortress when it became the country’s most important manufacturer of ‘quarrels’ or crossbow bolts.
The early 14th century was a turbulent period in English history, marked by persistent conflict with Scotland and internal strife. Two significant, yet often overlooked, events from this era are the Battle of Byland and the burning of Knaresborough Town and Church. Each represents the violence and shifting fortunes that shaped the kingdom during the reign of Edward the Second.
Edward II’s troubled reign saw friction between powerful factions and ever- increasing raids by the Scots into northern England, leading to rebellion against the King. In 1317 Knaresborough Castle was seized by supporters of the rebel Earl of Lancaster. Records show that the King’s Constable spent £55 to lay siege and eventually recaptured the castle three months later.
In 1318 raiding Scots penetrated as far south as Knaresborough and burnt much of the town, including the parish church and priory. Knaresborough Castle, though, was not taken and remained the only point of refuge in the town.
The Battle of Byland took place on 14 October 1322 near Byland Abbey in North Yorkshire. The conflict was a defining moment in the Second War of Scottish Independence. King Edward the Second, having suffered a defeat at Bannockburn in 1314, found himself again challenged by the audacious Scottish king, Robert the Bruce.
Robert the Bruce launched a bold invasion into northern England, capitalising on English weakness and internal divisions. Edward II, encamped at Helmsley near Rievaulx Abbey, was caught off guard by the rapid movement of the Scottish forces. The English, positioned on hills for defensive advantage, were quickly outmanoeuvred by Bruce’s men, who scaled the slopes and struck with ferocity. Edward’s forces tried to block the Scots from gaining the high ground by defending the narrow pass at Roulston Scar, just south of Sutton Bank.
The defeat was catastrophic for Edward II. Many of his men were killed or captured, and the king himself narrowly escaped, abandoning his personal baggage and royal seal in the panic. The loss at Byland solidified Scottish control over the border region and forced England to negotiate a truce. Edward was forced to relinquish his crown in January 1327 in favour of his son, Edward the Third, and he died in Berkeley Castle on 21 September, probably murdered on the orders of the new regime and is buried in Gloucester Cathedral.
Philippa of Hainault married King Edward III at York Minster on January 24, 1328, and received Knaresborough castle as part of her marriage settlement. Whereas previous monarchs had used the castle to consolidate their power in the North, Queen Philippa spent most of her summers in Knaresborough with her young family, transforming the castle into a comfortable and lavish court residence.
Queen Philippa of Hainault supported the reconstruction of St. John the Baptist Church in Knaresborough after a Scottish raid, with the king, Edward III, promising her the restoration. Philippa took great interest in the work, particularly the St. Edmund’s Chapel, and the church later became known as the “Queen’s Church” due to her support and frequent visits to the nearby castle during her time in Knaresborough.