Barnet 1471 Battlefields Society are looking for volunteers to help launch a new research project to look at the Original Court Rolls for the local Barnet/Hertfordshire area from the dates 1470 to 1476 (1 year before the battle & 5 years after) & Barnet Battlefields Landscape & Military Tactics Project. We will be looking at the agricultural landscape to map medieval ridge & fallow aswell as mapping the 1471 historical landscape. We will be researching into any & all local authority action in original local manor house court rolls from 1470-76. Researching local church archives aswell as reviewing all documents for clues to assist in the process of finding the Barnet 1471 Battlefield. By doing this it will also help to build a greater understanding of the landscape, local politics of the time and we can start to build a picture of the military tactics used by the two armies.

What we'll deliver:

• Research into Barnet Court Rolls & associated areas
• Research into Barnet Battlefield Landscape & Military Tactics Project
• Undertake Archaeological Works & Battlefield Experts
• Assist with purchasing/funding a research hub/visitor centre
• Assist with protecting and conserving Hadley Highstone Monument
• Engage with the local community of Barnet & Wider UK

Why it's a great idea:

Brian Warren has agreed we can continue to use his research into the Appraisal fo the Battle of Barnet 1471 & The Medieval Period in the Local Area. This includes looking at Barnet’s medieval maps, court rolls and the local medieval area in and around the battlefield. Brian is a local historian who has spent most of his life researching in Barnet, Potters Bar and Hertfordshire for Potters Bar and District Historical Society. We currently have copies of Brian’s work which can be purchased from us for £2.50 each plus P&P, we are happy to post to you or you can collect from us at our talks/events. After the ongoing success of the Battle of Barnet Project & Barnet Medieval Festival there is a lot of interest in finding the last major battlefield from the Wars of the Roses. The Battle of Barnet is the future King Richard III’s first battle and it is where Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick better known to history as The Kingmaker fell and died on the 14th April 1471.

Steps to get it done:

• Find Barnet 1471 Battlefield
• Protect & Conserve the Barnet Battlefield
• Protect & Conserve any Battle of Barnet Monumnet
• Build or develop a Visitor Centre
• Involve the communities of Barnet, Hertfordshire & Wider UK/Europe in all the works we undertake
• Fund Archaeological Works/Hire Relevant Experts
• Assist in the development of Barnet Medieval Festival
• Publish our works & findings
• Host regular talks and events in & around Barnet

What we plan to do and How we are going to achieve this • To look at the local archives in Barnet, Hatfield, Potters Bar and other areas within Hertfordshire • To find and map medieval ridge & fallow • Look at the agricultural landscape for 1471 and today • To get involved in mapping the medieval land with modern techniques • Historic map readers • Help in understanding the medieval weapons & armour used in the battle from longbows, canons, guns, swords etc • We need people who are can read medieval 15th century texts or old documents and have archiving skills • Translators of medieval latin or transcribers • People with local knowledge & enthusiasm • Anyone who can look at the local church lands and archival documents Our first meeting to organise volunteers will be in September 2018, and we are also looking for volunteers who can willing to manage volunteers and work closely with the Project Leads Liz Bown (Secretary) & Jazz Caruana (Research Secretary).