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The Battle of Naseby, fought in the open fields between the villages of Naseby, Sibbertoft and Clipston in Northamptonshire, was the decisive battle of the English Civil War. It started at about 9 o’clock in the morning on 14 June 1645 and lasted about 3 hours. The Royalist army numbered about 12,000 men, the Parliamentarians 15,000. The Royalists were routed and only about 4,000 escaped the field, most of whom were either cavalry or senior officers.

On the anniversary of the battle, two ghostly reenactments take place: a convoy of grim-faced soldiers has been seen pushing carts down an old drovers’ road and the entire battle has been seen taking place in the sky above the site, complete with the sounds of men screaming and cannon firing. For the first century or so after the battle villagers would come out and sit on the nearby hills to watch it.

Grid Reference: SP684799 (468490, 279990); OS Landranger map:141; OS Explorer map: 223. The battlefield is easily accessible via minor roads, though there are few rights of way.