Battle of Lewes illustrations for schools – older KS1 and KS2 and KS3
Illustration / Location / Events/Text Notes
Priory /
  • A messenger tells of the King’s army approaching
  • The monks discuss how they will cope

Priory /
  • The king makes lots of requests
  • Soldiers are rowdy
  • Prior makes polite requests for the king to keep an eye on his soldiers
  • Feast of St Pancras is ruined

Fletching /
  • SdM’s army divided into four sections: his right flank is led by Nicholas de Seagrave; the middle by Gilbert de Clare; the left by Henri and Gui de Montfort and SM holding the rear in reserve
  • Put on white crosses and set off before dawn

Offham Hill /
  • SdM’s army see the Priory bell tower and kneel in prayer

Priory /
  • Kings army are slow to get ready
  • Monks look on disapprovingly, clearing up the mess

Castle /
  • Prince Edward sends a group of mounted lookoutstowards Offham
  • Everyone getting ready for battle

Offham Hill /
  • Mounted lookouts disperse
  • Lone lookout falls asleep

Offham Hill /
  • Barons March to Offham Hill to get a good view of Lewes
Nicholas Seagrave gets there first and moves down the hill to Lewes
Castle /
  • Watchmen on top of the Castle see baron’s army on Offham Hill
Prince Edward and John de Warenne rush to have a look too
Castle /
  • Prince Edward sends a messenger to his father at the Priory

Castle /
  • Prince Edward sets off at a pace

Mount Harry /
  • PE’s army attacks NdS’s Londoners who retreat north and east, many drowning in the muddy river
  • ED follows north hacking the Londoners down as they retreat

Priory /
  • Meanwhile- the King assembles his soldiers- lots of confusion

Prison hill (ish) /
  • King meets the barons’ right flank- lots of fighting
  • Many of the king’s army scatter and run away

At Anne’s (ish) /
  • Richard of Almaine is surrounded by barons
  • RA and some of his men hide in a windmill and are found by John de Bears
  • RA surrenders to Gilbert de Clare, the highest ranking noble available

Battlefield /
  • SdM and the reserves joins the fight

Illustration / Location / Events/Text Notes
Battlefield Priory way /
  • Alan de la Zouch runs to the Priory and is found later disguised as a Monk
  • King’s army is losing and retreat to the Priory

Battlefield /
  • John de Warenne, Hugh Bigod, Peter Savoy, Gui de Luisgnan, and William de Valance and 300 of his soldiers run away to the coast

Priory /
  • Monks open the Great Gate to the King
  • The barons are chasing them
  • Not all get in and many are slaughtered
  • Some knights captured

River Ouse at Cliffe and upstream /
  • Some soldiers try to escape over Cliffe Bridge but there are too many and lots fall into the Ouse and drown.
  • Some try to escape towards Malling Deanery and are drowned in the mud and swampy ground

Priory /
  • Prince Edward returns and retreats to the Priory
  • Barons’ men shoot flaming arrows at the Priory

Town/Castle /
  • Battle moves into the town, SD’s men are in the town and fire flaming arrows at the Castle, some fall short and set other buildings alight
  • King’s men at the castle send flaming arrows into the town doing a great deal of damage

Priory /
  • King surrenders to Gilbert de Clare

Priory /
  • King is forced to sign the Mise of Lewes