Ludford Bridge

'Almyghty God... smote the hertes of the seid Duc of York and Erles soddenly from that most presumptuouse pryde, to the most shamefull falle of Cowardise that coud be thought, so that aboute mydnyght... they stale awey oute of the Felde... levyng their Standardes and Baners in their bataill directly ayenst youre Feld, fledde oute of the Toune unarmed, with fewe persones into Wales; understondyng that youre people hertes assembled, was blynded by theym afore, were he more partie converted by Goddes inspiration to repent theym, and humbly submytte theym to You, and aske youre grace, which so didde the grete part; to whom, at our Lordes reverence and Seint Edward, Ye ymparted largely youre grace.' Rotuli Parliamentorum

Ludford Bridge 1459 - print from a Wars of the Roses painting by Graham Turner

Ludford Bridge Ref: Gic-G342

Henry VI's army sweeps across Ludford Bridge and into Ludlow on the morning of 13th October 1459. Reluctant to commit treason, many of those facing them had dispersed or gone over to the king, and, with the situation seemingly lost, the Yorkist lords had fled during the night, abandoning their remaining soldiers - along with the Duke of York's duchess, Cecily, their daughter Margaret, and younger sons George and Richard.

Here, some of the soldiers who had remained loyal to York, Warwick and Salisbury sit dejectedly as Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham rides by. Having submitted to the king they desperately hope to be granted his pardon, but for now their futures hang in the balance.

The banners and standards from left to right are: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter (on the bridge); Lord Clifford: King Henry VI; Henry, Lord Fitzhugh; John, Lord Lovell; Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham; William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel. Buckingham himself is in front of his standard, and his soldiers are identified by their black and red livery jackets bearing the Stafford knot.

Giclée Print published from a gouache painting by Graham Turner.

Each print individually printed to order on very high quality heavyweight paper, and then signed on the border by the artist.

Sizes given are approximate and include a border.

click on image to enlarge

Available in two alternative sizes - select size required below -
21"x 17" overall size has an image size of 16.1"x 12.5" (411mm x 317mm)
16"x 12" overall size has an image size of 12.1"x 9.5" (312mm x 241mm)

Approximate overall print size

21"x 17" (53cm x 43cm) £79.00

16"x 12" (41cm x 30cm) £59.00

The road into Ludlow crossing the river Teme at Ludford Bridge.
Photo by Graham Turner ©

Having printed your giclée print on the best quality fine-art paper (Hahnemühle 308gsm), Graham Turner individually signs it on the border.

CLICK HERE for more information about Graham Turner's Giclée Prints

Original Painting

Graham Turner's original painting of LUDFORD BRIDGE is available for sale - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

The Battle of Hexham - Painting by Graham Turner

THE WARS OF THE ROSES

THE MEDIEVAL ART OF GRAHAM TURNER - Signed by Graham Turner

Graham Turner's eagerly anticipated book about the Wars of the Roses is now available.

It includes over 120 of his paintings and drawings, many newly created, with supplementary images and a comprehensive and fascinating text that illuminates the complex, shifting course of events and the people who lived their lives through this tumultuous time.

Order your signed copy now - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Avoiding battle with the vastly superior royal army, the Yorkists returned to Ludlow. King Henry marched with his army, 'not sparyng for eny ympedyment or difficulte of wey' and he 'logged (lodged) in bare feld somtyme two nyghtes togider with all youre Host in the colde season of the yere'. Although he is usually portrayed as completely ineffectual, Henry clearly had some physical strengths, which he also demonstrated while evading capture for a year in the north in 1464/5.

The force that arrayed in support of King Henry on the wet meadows beside the river Teme at Ludford Bridge made it very clear how isolated the Yorkist lords had become, with most of their fellow peers favouring loyalty to their anointed king over rebellion. Among those who had answered the king's summons were the dukes of Buckingham, Somerset and Exeter, the earls of Northumberland, Shrewsbury, Devon, Wiltshire and Arundel, Viscount Beaumont, and at least five barons. Devon was now with the king, for although he had been one of the few to stand with York at Dartford seven years earlier, the two men had fallen out over the handling of his dispute with Bonville.

The Yorkists had prepared 'a grete depe dyche and fortefyde it with gonnys, cartys, and stakys' and 'than and there shotte their seid Gonnes, and shotte aswele at youre most Roiall persone, as at youre Lordes and people with you'.

As at the Battle of St Albans, the presence of the king still had enormous significance, for despite any shortcoming he might have had, the idea of fighting against your anointed king was considered sacrilegious, not to mention treasonable. Clearly, some of York's army decided that this was a step too far and, as night fell on 12 October 1459, they began to melt away, Yorkist hopes being finally crushed by the defection of most of the Calais garrison under Andrew Trollope to the royalist side 'wher thei wer receyved joyously'.

Divided Loyalty Print

Ludlow Castle - Autumn, 1459.

A soldier from the Calais Garrison considers the awkward dilemma he finds himself in: sworn to protect the King, yet now expected to take up arms against him by his captain, the Earl of Warwick, who has joined the Duke of York in his stand against Henry VI and his court favourites. He proudly wears the cross of St. George - the livery of England - while holding a red sash bearing Warwick's badge of the ragged staff he is expected to put on. Where does his loyalty lie - is he prepared to follow his captain in open rebellion against the Crown, to become a traitor?

Divided Loyalty is available as a high-quality, artist-signed giclée print, on paper or canvas. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

The Wars of the Roses

The period of civil strife in the second half of the 15th century now known as the Wars of the Roses was one of the most dramatic and turbulent in English history. Since first being inspired by a visit to Bosworth battlefield nearly 30 years ago, Graham Turner has immersed himself in the period to create a unique and comprehensive series of meticulously researched paintings that bring to life this colourful but unsettled chapter in our past and our ancestors who lived their lives through it.

Graham's available original paintings, along with prints and cards reproduced from them, are detailed here on the Studio 88 website, and the following links will take you to a relevant page to help your browsing.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF ST ALBANS, 1455

THE BATTLE OF BLORE HEATH, 1459

THE BATTLE OF LUDFORD BRIDGE, 1459

THE BATTLE OF NORTHAMPTON, 1460

THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD, 1460

THE BATTLE OF MORTIMER'S CROSS, 1461

THE SECOND BATTLE OF ST ALBANS, 1461

THE BATTLE OF TOWTON, 1461

THE BATTLE OF HEDGELEY MOOR, 1464

THE BATTLE OF HEXHAM, 1464

THE BATTLE OF EDGCOTE, 1469

THE BATTLE OF EMPINGHAM, 1470

THE BATTLE OF BARNET, 1471

THE BATTLE OF TEWKESBURY, 1471

THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH, 1485

THE BATTLE OF STOKE, 1487

CLICK HERE for the overall menu to find details of Graham's complete range of medieval open and limited edition prints, individually produced giclée prints, greeting cards and available original paintings.

The Wars of the Roses - Medieval Art Paintings, Prints and Cards by Graham Turner