I remembered from my schoolgirl history, already history itself as that was nearly half a century ago, that Flodden Field was the site of a notoriously bloody battle between the English and the Scots. I couldn't drive by without going to see and refresh my memory on the details.
Apparently it was a diversionary tactic by James IV of Scotland, to take the heat off France, as part of the 'Auld Alliance' as they were in conflict with Henry VIII. Probably a lot more too it than that but it was an unwise gesture of loyalty by James, to their old ally as he ended up being killed in battle, the last British Monarch to do so. Not only did James lose his life, in the region of 14,000 others did too.
The site today looks so peaceful, it's hard to imagine the carnage that took place there.
The slight dip in the middle of this Rapeseed field was a boggy area that proved the undoing of the Scots.
As always, I'm fascinated by ruins and would love to know the story behind this one.
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