Battle of Stanhope Park

Battle of Stanhope Park
Part of the First War of Scottish Independence
Date Night of 3–4 August 1327 Location Stanhope Park, County Durham, England Result Scottish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Scotland	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Sir James Douglas Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray	Edward III Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March
Strength
at least 200 Cavalry, unknown infantry	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

Coordinates: 54°44′28″N 2°06′36″W / 54.74111°N 2.11000°W / 54.74111; -2.11000

Edward III

The Battle of Stanhope Park, part of the First War of Scottish Independence, took place during the night of 3–4 August 1327. The Scots under James Douglas led a raid into Weardale, and Roger Mortimer, accompanied by the newly crowned Edward III on his first campaign, led an army to drive them back. Douglas led, among other ambushes, an attack into the English camp, with 500 cavalry, and almost captured the king.

At the beginning of June 1327, a state of truce existed between England and Scotland but it was clear it would not last. Truce negotiations broke down and by 15 June, Scots forces had crossed over into the English West March. An English army, including a large contingent of Hainaut mercenaries (amongst whom was the chronicler Jean le Bel), set out from York on 1 July to make a counter invasion of Scotland. On 15 July, they were in Durham. It was here that they saw smoke from burning farms in the surrounding countryside and realised that a second Scottish force had entered the English Eastern March and was close by.

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