1138, the Scots and English Clash Near Clitheroe

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Lead image, Clitheroe, and Pendle by the author.

There was a period known as the Anarchy that extended from 1138 to 1153. Civil war ranged across the land and it affected most parts of the Kingdom. Lancashire did not escape the carnage and a Scottish force was marching towards Clitheroe, through the Trough of Bowland. The Summer of 1138 was hot and humid as the tired army approached the river Ribble. This era is known as the Medieval warm period and many great Cathedrals were built during the favorable conditions.

The Anarchy

The war was precipitated by a succession crisis. The only legitimate son of King Henry I was drowned in a shipping accident, as a result, the King made his daughter Empress Matilda the heir to the throne. However many Barons did not support this.

Henry died in 1135 and his Nephew, Steven of Blois, seized the throne with the help of Stephen’s brother Henry. Henry of Blois was Bishop of Winchester. At the time the church was very powerful and this brought some religious houses onto the side of Stephen. This is the era where the book and TV series Cadfael is set.

The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey, in western England, in the first half of the 12th century. The historically accurate stories are set between about 1135 and about 1145, during “The Anarchy”, the destructive contest for the crown of England between King Stephen and Empress Maud.
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Additionally, King David I of Scotland was related to Matilda and he sent a force into England to fight Stephen.

The Battle of Clitheroe

The Location of Edisford Bridge, Map Open Street map

As the Scottish army approached the Ribble Crossing at Edisford Bridge an opposing force loyal to Stephen met them. At the time there was no bridge here just a Ford. The River is still relatively shallow at this point even today. A battle ensued and the Scots won against the forces of Stephen. They continued into Yorkshire where they were defeated by a larger force of Stephen’s troops. The Feudal system meant that peasants had to fight for their Lord.

Edisfrod Bridge today, pic Lancashire Past

The Feudal system

The Feudal system was a complicated method of medieval administration based on land ownership. The King owned all of the land in the country. However, he could not administer everything by himself so he granted lands to The nobility. The top nobility were known as Lords while Barons were lower in rank and had to provide military service to the King. That was in times of war or unrest.