ORGANISERS of a project aiming to uncover the story of exactly what happened during one of the most major battles of the Wars of the Roses which was fought on Herefordshire soil are inviting people to join an historical walk across the site.

The battle of Mortimer’s Cross was fought on either February 2 or 3 in 1461 when the Yorkist army of Edward intercepted a Lancastrian force under Jasper Tudor who was marching from South Wales.

However, whilst we know the Lancastrian army was defeated, there is little information relating to exactly where the battle was fought or how many people were involved or killed.

Those involved with the Mortimer’s Cross Battlefield Project are aiming to uncover the answers so that the site can be officially registered as a battlefield and are holding a fundraising walk this weekend.

The seven-mile route will take visitors from Mortimer’s Cross to Kingsland and back while exploring some of the possible locations that the battle might have taken place.

Martin Hackett, a historical author who is involved with the project, and Ian Maddox, chairman, said: “The project is about recognition and education and preservation. Unless a site gets recognised it just gets forgotten and lost.

"This battle is so important, it really is. The course of history could have been changed."

If things had gone differently here, they said, major events in English history may not have taken place – including Henry VIII and the Church of England.

"This battle is a major tipping point in English history. We would probably still be Catholic – the Armada would never have happened. But it's brushed over simply because of a lack of information.”

The project started three years ago when English Heritage approached the Battlefield Trust to discuss the possibility of getting the site registered.

They added: "It will complete the picture of the Wars of the Roses. There has been a lot of work on Bosworth and other sites but this is the battle that put Edward on the throne. If he had lost this, the Yorkist case was over.

"If the project can be successful, at least in the future people will refer to it and recognise it as something of significance rather than a little skirmish on the Welsh border.

"It will be listed on the Battlefield register and will have to be considered as part of planning applications.

"The really key thing that people don't appreciate how in this area was. It really was a Yorkist heartland."

The walk, which takes place on Saturday (May 6), also includes morning coffee, buffet lunch in Kingsland and afternoon tea and cakes.

An arms and armour presentation and walk of battle-related Medieval Kingsland is included.

A donation of £20 is requested to cover the day and to support the project.

For more information and to book, email anthonyrich@virginmedia.com or hackett765@btinternet.com or call 0121 2499292, 07711086189 or 07583 891943.