A panel of experts set up by English Heritage, including David Smurthwaite of the National Army Museum, have recently compiled a proposed register of English battlefields deemed worthy of preservation. Though the register, to be officially launched in September 1994, will have no legal force, it is hoped that it will provide additional pressure in inducing government and local authorities to prevent building development on these sites.

The panel evidently encountered some difficulty in establishing uniform criteria on what constituted a battlefield deserving preservation. Eventually factors such as its political and military significance, notable personalties involved and/or killed there, and the extent of information the exact location of the fighting were used. The decision was also taken to exclude skirmishes (actions involving less than 1,000 men on each side.

Much of the investigative work involved in compiling the Register was carried out by the Centre for Environmental Interpretation (CEI) at Manchester Metropolitan University. The CEI was established in 1980, as a national centre to promote good practice in environmental interpretation, defined as "the art of explaining the meaning and significance of sites to visitors". The survey involved the use of maps and documents plus field surveys in order to to identify contemporary buildings, roads, and other topographical features, including historic hedgelines, in order to interpret the course of each battle and subsequent landscape changes.

The survey found that in a large number of cases many historical features are still visible, but frequently threatened by development or neglect.

Using the above criteria, English Heritage have come up with a register of 41 battles (starting with Alaldon in 991), an appendix of 15 battle sites (regarded as somewhat less important because their sites are held to be poorly defined) and 13 actions which have not been registered, mainly because they have been classified as skirmishes or having unknown locations.

The register itself includes the following ECW battles: (only England is covered under its terms of reference):

Newburn Ford (1640), Edgehill (1642), Braddock Down (1643) (interesting to see which site!), Stratton (1643), Hopton Heath (1643), Adwalton Moor (1643), Lansdown (1643), Roundway Down (1643), Newbury 1 (1643), Nantwich (1644), Winceby (1643), Cheriton (1644), Cropredy Bridge (1644), Marston Moor (1644), Naseby (1645), Langport (1645), Rowton Heath (1645), Stow-on-the-Wold (1646), Worcester (1651)

PROPOSED BATTLE SITES ARE:

Newark (1644), Newbury II (1644), Sherburn (1645), Torrington (1646), Preston (1648)

UNREGISTERED ARE:

Powick (1642), Chalgrove (1643), Ripple (1643), Montgomery (1644) (because mostly in Wales)

There can be no doubt that the Register is a very welcome development, which it is to be hoped will be given some legislative teeth as soon as possible. But, to this writer at least, some of the omissions and classifications give concern. Whilst it may be true that post 17th century developments (e.g. at Powick) may cause problems in finding anything authentic to preserve, surely Chalgrove, as the scene of John Hampden's mortal wounding, apart from its military interest, should recieve some protection.

There are also some surprising omissions (which readers can doubtless add to):

Gainsborough 1643 (Significant action in which Cromwell was involved)

Lostwithiel 1644 (Presumably the Castle Dore area of fighting will be covered as an Ancient Monument, but other areas, such as Beacon Hill, remain unprotected).

Winwick Pass (1648) (the final action of the Preston Campaign, with several thousand men involveed on each side, lasting several hours, Cromwell present, and with a site still largely undeveloped).

Whilst English Heritage are certainly to be congratulated on their initiative, which it is to be hoped will be emulated by corresponding bodies in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, it is also important, if the Register is to be fully effective, that all interested parties make their views on possible improvements known before any legislation is enacted. It may be our last chance!