Battlefield Photo References

-
Rummaging through my boxes yesterday, I found by old back-up discs with my shots of Lewes when I walked the Downs in 2005. Could it have truly been that long ago? I took these photos with my old Canon Powershot S70 which is stitch-enabled to take panoramic shots. I copied them into my new computer drive and using Autostitch (instead of Canon Photostitch) found I got decent results. These photos are achieved by merging two photos only - one of my central shots is too misaligned to enable a proper match - I didn't use a tripod.

 The first image is a view about half way up the Downs from Lewes toward the top where de Montefort's army formed up. As I interpret the battlefield to my left is the rise up which the centre and left wards of the Royal army ascended. The entire span of the approach is divided by a spine along which runs the track I walked, separating the left to wards from the Royal right flank both physically and visually.

Turning to my left, we see where the King and his brother took their troops from the town which most likely would not have sprawled into this view at the time of the battle. These are great colour references for my terrain. Just when I start to think my boards are too green or bright, I can look at these and calm down. Note the mid-point smear of grey/purple flowers and the white flowers on the high ground.
The main path straight up the Downs has been sealed but the colour scheme is very like the natural tracks elsewhere. Above is a shot taken when I explored past the top of the downs and to the side where I envisage much of the Baronial army made their way to the battle. It could very well be the same routes across which the broken Londoners were chased by Prince Henry's cavalry.
More of the woods to the Baronial rear. I have yet to decide if they will feature on my table-top. If at all, I'll represent them at the corner where the tracks leave at the top of the rise. It's all useful foliage references for me.
This last shot is not mine put taken from the web. It's another useful colour guide for the tracks and you may see why I started with a base coat of brown. The low shrubs are also handy. What beautiful country.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

William de Goldingham: Research & Modelling

-
Image
Ermine, three bars wavy, gules William de Goldingham was a knight of Essex (holding Chigwell Manor and seisin (freehold) of Burebache Wood) and may have come into the possession of family estates at Goldingham Hall (a manor in Bulmer parish, Yorkshire) and Ryshton, Yorkshire which was held earlier by Hugh de Goldingham. Nevertheless, the chief estate for the Goldinghams was Chigwell, formerly of William Brito and believed to have come into their possession as tenancy in demesne (or ownership) some time after 1254. The manor of Grange, which gave its name to Grange Hill, was originally part of Chigwell Hall and altogether the estates must have comprised significant land holdings and income as William de Goldingham and Aline (his wife) confirmed to Robert, Abbot of Tilty, gifts to the abbey of 3 messuages (house and land) and 234½ acres of land in Chigwell in 1258. Having said that, he is generally judged a knight of average means. The Goldingham family lineage through open sourc...
Read more

Reserve Ward: Crossbow

-
Image
  Any type of missile or bow armed fighting men are not recorded as having been present at Lewes in significant numbers or having made any significant impact. Nevertheless, they were sure to have been present if only to enabled harassment of an enemy force before the large bodies of spear and mounted soldiery came to grips with one another. There is every reason to assume that crossbow armed foot would have been included in the general call-to-arms on either side and so it is that I have elected to furnish my rebel reserve ward with a small unit. I love these sculpts from Crusader Miniatures (pack MCF031) which I ordered through Northstar Miniatures . They were no-fuss constructions - very little clean up needed and just glue in the crossbows. I chose of round off one of the more peaked helmets through filing just to add variety. I don't often get to build small units so this was a rapid treat for me. Next up ... some spear armed foot.  
Read more

Richard de Grey's Company: Centre Ward Foot

-
Image
  Richard de Grey, knight of Codnor was the son of Henry de Grey and Isolda Bardolf. The Grey family’s principle estate held by the senior members of the de Grey family was Codnor in Derbyshire. Before continuing, as with many persons in the historical record there exists on the Internet a deal of confusion concerning lineages and there exists contradictory material on Richard. It remains unclear to be when my Richard was born and his age at Lewes, there being a good deal of suggestion that he was quite elderly at the time but I suspect on-line details of his life confuse this Richard with his immediate predecessor. I have relied on the tried and true websites such as The Peerage and the published works on the Barons War and Battle of Lewes. The details given, whilst not complete, are at least those I remain confident of. What's left of Codnor Castle today Richard certainly lived and was most probably born at Codnor castle. He had inherited estates of the lands formerly ...
Read more