The Battlefields of Edge Hill

The site of the first major pitched battle of the English Civil War, fought on 23rd October 1642 between the Royalist army of King Charles I and the Parliamentarian forces of the Earl of Essex. Approximately 25,000 men clashed in the fields below Edge Hill between the villages of Radway and Kineton, in what would become the largest battlefield in Britain. The battle was technically the longest of the entire Civil War conflict, with military manoeuvres lasting two days beyond the main engagement. Though both sides claimed victory, historians generally agree the Royalists gained the advantage by securing the road to London. The battlefield remains largely unspoiled, with much of the site now owned by the Ministry of Defence. A free permanent exhibition is housed in the beautiful St Peter's Church in Radway (CV35 0BS), featuring interactive displays, artefacts, specially commissioned films, life-size mannequins, and archaeological findings that reveal the battle's secrets. The exhibition is open during daylight hours (8am till dusk) virtually every day of the year. From the exhibition, visitors can explore well-signposted public footpaths across the battlefield and up to the famous Radway Tower (now The Castle Inn pub and restaurant) on the escarpment. The village of Radway itself boasts impressive 18th-century architecture and landscaping by renowned architect Sanderson Miller, including wooded trails through the escarpment. The area also features the historic medieval church site, ancient cart wash, Fiennes Miller Obelisk, and Radway Meadows nature reserve.