The Battle of Sandwich 1460.


The 'The Battle of Sandwich' is cited as an event during the War of the Roses for which no apparent evidence can be found. Something of a skirmish is believed to have occurred, but scant details of this are apparent, in any local history of the area...

With command of the English channel secured by his fleet Warwick Captain of Calais, landed with Edward and Salisbury and March at Sandwich on June 26, 1460, having cleared the English Channel of French pirates madking the Kent coast safe Warwick was a recieved as a hero to the men of Kent.

The small Yorkist army of about 2000 men, having arrived from Calais ahead of the Earls of March and Warwick increased in number joined by many followers as they proceeded by way of Canterbury (and thus probably Wickhambreaux).

They were largely well supported as the Yorkist commanders had remained popular in Kent. They proceeded to march for London through Canterbury where the officers in charge of protecting the town against them joined forces with the rebels, this support ensured a prompt journey to the capital, arriving in London on the 2nd of July, when they were welcomed by the Mayor of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The army advanced upon Northampton to meet Henry and his army. The two forces met at Northampton on 10 July 1460.