Publications
The Battle of Lewes, by Rev. W. R. W. Stephens, M.A., published 1884 in The Archaeological Journal (vol. 41, article, pp.189-202) View Online
An unpublished notice of the Battle of Lewes, by J. P. Gilson, published July 1896 in The English Historical Review (vol. xi, issue xliii, article, pp.520-522, ISSN: 0013-8266) View Online
De Montfort's Squire: A Story of the Battle of Lewes, by Frederick Harrison, published 1909 (S. P. C. K.) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
A New Guide to Lewes: its Castle, Priory, Churches and Neighbourhood, by W. Heneage Legge, published c.1909 (52 pp., London: Enterprise Printing Co.) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 4267] & British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
with notes on the Museum and an account of the Battle of Lewes & illustrated with drawings by Arthur Legge and with photographs and a map of the town.
The Crossing of the Ouse after the Battle of Lewes, by G. D. Johnston, published May 1956 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. XIV nos. 9 & 10, article, pp.169-171) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8232][Lib 2213] & The Keep [LIB/500216] & S.A.S. library
Simon de Montfort, by Margaret Wade Labarge, published 1 January 1962 (312 pp., Eyre & Spottiswoode) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503929] & East Sussex Libraries
The Battle of Lewes 1264: Its Place in History, by Sir F. Maurice Powicke, R. F. Treharne and Lt. Col. Charles H. Lemmon, published 1964 (The Friends of Lewes Society) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502868]
Review by T. S. in Sussex Notes and Queries, November 1964:This convenient, well-illustrated pocket book is, or will become, a "must" for collectors of Sussexiana. The main essay by Professor Treharne is a masterpiece of concentrated history of the strange reign of Henry III. The curious plausible character of Henry is clearly explained and several new facets are considered. The deep influence of his religion on the formidable Simon de Montfort explain much of interest in the career of this remarkable warrior and reforming aristocrat. Col. Lemmon's essay on the actual battle is refreshing. A modern soldier after carefully reconnoitring the terrain produces a very plausible battle plan of the events of May 14th. There are few sites in England which have changed so little in seven hundred years. For over a century the tale of the battle as visualised by our Member, W. H. Blaauw, in 1844, has been accepted, now Col. Lemmon gives a considerable variation to these ideas. Sir Tufton Beamish, whose helpful introduction to this volume, is publishing his own work on the battles of Lewes and Evesham early next year. His reconstruction of the tactics of this event will prove of great interest to many.
This excellent small volume is very reasonably priced.
This excellent small volume is very reasonably priced.
Battle Royal: A New Account of Simon de Montfort's Struggle against King Henry III, by Tufton Beamish, published 1965 (285 pp., London: Frederick Muller Ltd.) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Review by C. H. L. in Sussex Notes and Queries, November 1965:This book is the story of the events which led to the Barons' War, the Battle of Lewes, and the aftermath which resulted in the establishment of a more representative government in England. The author steers his reader through the political currents, cross-currents, and rapids of the turbulent reign of Henry III. The book contains a wealth of detail, the fruit of much research, always informative and never boring. In the political portions of the book the touch is sure; but unfortunately Chapter VII, in which the battle is described, does not reach the same standard. Differences of opinion on how it was fought are inevitable, for there are two schools of thought; one that of Ramsay and Burne that it was fought, or at any rate begun, on Offham Hill, and the other, that of Oman and Blaauw, that it was fought on the outskirts of the town. But whatever theory is put forward the reader is entitled to a reconstruction which gives full consideration to the ground, logistics, psychology of commanders, and such definite evidence as grave pits. Would the pious Simon de Montfort, thoroughly imbued with the doctrine of the divine right of kings, have struck first against his anointed sovereign? Would his mail-clad horsemen, not too well mounted, have been able to make a night march in separated bodies over largely trackless country, scale the onein-six northern slopes of Offham Hill in the dark, and at dawn reach a rendezvous successfully on the flat top? De Montfort is described as being 'without question an outstanding military commander of his day,' yet he orders his untrained Londoners to march unsupported on the Castle, against the elite of the Royal Army who annihilate them. ' De Montfort,' we are told, 'can hardly have hoped that he could storm the castle on foot . . . perhaps he actually intended them as a decoy.' As no satisfactory reason is given why de Montfort employed such extraordinary tactics, one might be pardoned for concluding that he did not do so.
The Londoners, who are observed by foragers, march five furlongs (which would take them about 12 minutes) to the Wallands (site of the secondary modern school). There they meet the Lord Edward's cavalrymen, who, we are asked to believe, had been alerted, equipped themselves, saddled their horses, turned out, formed up, and also marched five furlongs, all in the same 12 minutes. There are some more strange logistics when the king makes his sortie from the Priory.
The pen-portraits of the chief actors in the drama are well drawn; that of Simon de Montfort forming a slight corrective to the exaggerated eulogies he has sometimes received. One feature of the book is a brilliant translation by Jane Hodlin of the too little known Song of Lewes, and another, the very interesting collection of illustrations from medieval documents which enliven the narrative.
The inclusion of quotations from a comic history of England as chapter headings may not appeal to some, but is certainly original. Sir Charles Petrie writes the foreword to this most informative book.
The Londoners, who are observed by foragers, march five furlongs (which would take them about 12 minutes) to the Wallands (site of the secondary modern school). There they meet the Lord Edward's cavalrymen, who, we are asked to believe, had been alerted, equipped themselves, saddled their horses, turned out, formed up, and also marched five furlongs, all in the same 12 minutes. There are some more strange logistics when the king makes his sortie from the Priory.
The pen-portraits of the chief actors in the drama are well drawn; that of Simon de Montfort forming a slight corrective to the exaggerated eulogies he has sometimes received. One feature of the book is a brilliant translation by Jane Hodlin of the too little known Song of Lewes, and another, the very interesting collection of illustrations from medieval documents which enliven the narrative.
The inclusion of quotations from a comic history of England as chapter headings may not appeal to some, but is certainly original. Sir Charles Petrie writes the foreword to this most informative book.
The Battle of Lewes, 1264, by E. L. Mann, published 1976 (32 pp., Seaford: SB Publications) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Battle Royal: A New Account of Simon de Montfort's Struggle against King Henry III, by Tufton Beamish, published 20 November 1978 (reprint, 285 pp., London: Frederick Muller Ltd., ISBN-10: 0584100183 & ISBN-13: 9780584100181)
The Mise of Lewes, 1264, by J. R. Maddicott, published July 1983 in The English Historical Review (vol. xcviii, no. ccclxxxviii, article, pp.588-603, ISSN: 0013-8266) View Online
Simon de Montfort and the Mise of Lewes, by David Carpenter, published May 1985 in Institute of Historical Research (vol. 58, issue 137, article, pp.1-11) View Online
The Battles of Lewes & Evesham, 1264/65, by David Carpenter, published 31 October 1987 (84 pp., Mercia Publications Ltd., ISBN-10: 0948087951 & ISBN-13: 9780948087950) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503456] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Simon de Montfort: The First Leader of a Political Movement in English History, by David Carpenter, published February 1991 in History: The Journal of the Historical Association (vol. 76, issue 246, article, pp.3-23)
The Battle of Lewes, by E. L. Mann, published November 1995 (new edition, 32 pp., Seaford: SB Publications, ISBN-10: 1857700945 & ISBN-13: 9781857700947) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Battles of Lewes - 1264: They Fought for England, by Barbara Fleming, published August 1999 (64 pp., J & K.H. Publications, ISBN-10: 1900511746 & ISBN-13: 9781900511742) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
The Second Barons' War: Simon de Montfort and the Battles of Lewes and Evesham, by John Sadler, published 15 October 2008 (xxv + 160 pp. & 8 pp. of plates, Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, ISBN-10: 1844158314 & ISBN-13: 9781844158317) accessible at: British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:For two years in the mid-thirteenth century England was torn by a bloody civil war between the king and his nobles. For a short time, the country came close to unseating the monarchy, and the outcome changed the course of English history. Yet this critical episode receives far less attention than the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil Wars that followed.
John Sadler, in this highly readable and perceptive study of the Barons' War, describes events in vivid detail. He explores the leading personalities, whose bitter quarrel gave rise to the conflict - Henry III, his son Prince Edward, later Edward I, and their most famous opponent, Simon de Montfort, whose masterful charisma galvanized support among the discontented nobility. The clash of interests between the king and his 'overmighty' subjects is reconsidered, as are the personal and political tensions that polarized opinion and tested loyalties to the limit. But the main emphasis of John Sadler's account is on events in the field, in particular the two major campaigns that determined the course of the war and indeed the future government of England - the battles fought at Lewes and Evesham.
John Sadler, in this highly readable and perceptive study of the Barons' War, describes events in vivid detail. He explores the leading personalities, whose bitter quarrel gave rise to the conflict - Henry III, his son Prince Edward, later Edward I, and their most famous opponent, Simon de Montfort, whose masterful charisma galvanized support among the discontented nobility. The clash of interests between the king and his 'overmighty' subjects is reconsidered, as are the personal and political tensions that polarized opinion and tested loyalties to the limit. But the main emphasis of John Sadler's account is on events in the field, in particular the two major campaigns that determined the course of the war and indeed the future government of England - the battles fought at Lewes and Evesham.
A Captive King: Henry III between the Battles of Lewes and Evesham, 1264-5, by Benjamin L. Wild, published 2009 in academia.eu (Thirteenth Century England XIII, Proceedings of the Paris Conference 2009, article, pp.41-56) Download PDF
The Battle of Lewes Project: Outlining plans to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the Battle, by Edwina Livesey, published August 2011 in Sussex Past & Present (no. 124, article, p.8, ISSN: 1357-7417) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500475] & S.A.S. library View Online
Battle of Lewes Embroidery, by Wendy Muriel, published April 2012 in Sussex Past & Present (no. 126, article, p.11, ISSN: 1357-7417) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500475] & S.A.S. library View Online
Preview:Lewes's answer to the Bayeux Tapestry is well under way - work started in July 2011 on the first and fifth panel of what will ultimately be a 3 metre long x 60cm deep depiction of the battle, designed by local artist Tom Walker, between Simon de Monfort and King Henry III that was fought at Lewes on 14th May 1264.
Battle of Lewes Conference: The beginnings of parliamentary democracy explored, by Mike Chartier and Edwina Livesey, published August 2012 in Sussex Past & Present (no. 127, article, p.8, ISSN: 1357-7417) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500475] & S.A.S. library View Online
The Battle of Lewes, 1264, by David Carpenter and Christopher Whittick, published 2014 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 152, article) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 18617] & The Keep [LIB/508097] & S.A.S. library View Online
Abstract:In 1987 David Carpenter published a new account of the battles of Lewes and Evesham, which included a radical re-interpretation of the evidence for the site of the former. To commemorate the battle's 750th anniversary, we revisit the engagement of 14 May 1264, augmenting the 1987 text with information which has emerged since then (and which further bolsters its findings), and offering further thoughts on the nature and significance of the clash between Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and King Henry III and his son the Lord Edward.
Tapestry Revealed! Grand unveiling after nearly three years' work, published August 2014 in Sussex Past & Present (no. 133, article, p.7, ISSN: 1357-7417) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/507923] & S.A.S. library View Online
Preview:This stunning work of art, created to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Lewes, was finally revealed on May 14, 2014, 750 years to the day since the battle that led to the first recorded parliamentary election of commoners was fought in and around the town. A dedicated team of more than 60 volunteer embroiderers, drawn from the local community, took almost three years to complete the tapestry using techniques and materials as close as possible to those that would have been in use in the 13th century. The first stitch was sewn by lead embroiderer Maggie Lanning in July 2011 and the last by co-leader Sally Blake in March of this year.
The Battle of Lewes: Battles in the Middle Ages, by Maria Caulfield, published 25 September 2014 (48 pp., Epsom: Bretwalda Books, ISBN-10: 1909698962 & ISBN-13: 9781909698963) accessible at: British Library
King's Men without the King: Royalist Castle Garrison Resistance between the Battles of Lewes and Evesham, by Fergus Oakes, published 2015 in Thirteenth century England (vol. 15, article, pp.51-68)