Background History

In 1823 the first monument was erected to commemorate the Battle of Naseby when the Lord and Lady of the manor, John and Mary Fitzgerald, had the Obelisk built on the old windmill mound. In 1936 the Cromwell Monument was installed on Broadmoor. It was the gift of Mr C E Reich who expressed his hope that 'you and your children, and your children's children will remember that here at Naseby occurred one of the most important events in the history of your county.' In more recent years a museum was maintained by the late Eric Westaway in Naseby village, keeping alive the memory of Naseby fight.

The obelisk The Unveiling of the Cromwell monument Fall Of shot map

Click on an image for a larger version.

In 2000 a new movement to celebrate the heritage of this place began. It was an entirely local initiative. As a result, under the aegis of the Battlefields Trust, the Naseby working party was set up in 2001. This group comprised the local people who had initiated the work of enhancing the battlefield as a place to be visited and was expanded to include two others from a little further afield, but also resident within Northamptonshire. When work began on the ground in 2006 the Naseby Battlefield Project became a registered company with a view to becoming a charity within the membership of the Trust and until that is achieved funds will continue to be administered by the Battlefields Trust.

In January 2007 agreement was reached with the Royal Armouries and with the Sealed Knot to work in partnership in the development of the Naseby Battlefield Project.

In February 2007 a Project Manager was appointed to meet the challenge of the expanding programme of improvements for visitors and to generate a business plan for future works.

In May 2007 The Naseby Battlefield project became a charity registered in England No. 1119178