Fairfax's Viewpoint - Naseby, Northamptonshire - Scenic Roadside Look-Outs on Waymarking.com

Fairfax’s viewpoint is situated at the location where Fairfax and Comwell rode forward from Naseby windmill to view the Royalist army drawing up on the opposite ridge. A platform has been erected at such a height as to give the visitor a horseback view of the landscape.

"North of the bridge over the A14 on the road from Naseby to Clipston, NN6 6BU. Car parking, coach turning and parking space and cycle racks, viewing platform with wheelchair access and interpretation board. Trees and shrubs appropriate to the area have been planted.

Early on Saturday 14 June Captain-General Sir Thomas Fairfax marched the New Model Army north from Guilsborough towards Naseby to meet at Naseby windmill (now the Obelisk). By 8.00am King Charles and Rupert had moved the royal army to the position on the ridge between East Farndon and Little Oxendon. The view north from the windmill was limited by the rising ground, so that Fairfax and his commander of horse, Lieutenant General Oliver Cromwell, rode along the road to Kelmarsh and Market Harborough, to the edge of the steep hill overlooking Clipston, to look for their enemies. The side road from which this site is entered is the old road to Kelmarsh and Market Harborough.The countryside was mainly of large, open fields without the hedges and woods, as is shown on the landscape interpretation board so that the visitor can imagine the view they had in 1645. The parliamentarian generals, who were close to this viewing platform, could see the royalist army on the distant ridge to the north and wanted to draw them into a fight. Realising their own hill was too difficult for Rupert to attack; they ordered the New Model Army westward, to their left, onto more high ground south of the open, shallow Broadmoor valley. It is likely that Prince Rupert saw them on the march as they came over this ridge andtherefore ordered his army to Dust Hill, north of Broadmoor, to offer battle. An alternative view suggests Rupert moved first to gain the advantage of the wind at his back to blow musket smoke into the eyes of his adversaries."

SOURCE - (visit link)

Describe - Highway or Road number: Clipston Road Closest town or city: Naseby Number of parking spots available: 20 Name if a website describes this location.: [Web Link] Year around access ?: yes Comfort station on site: no Is a photo of an "Information Sign"included?: Yes Winter View: Not Listed Summer View: Not Listed

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