BattlefieldsScots Burning of Hexham and Corbridge — Wallace Raid 1297
Medieval

Scots Burning of Hexham and Corbridge — Wallace Raid 1297

1297
Northumberland, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English
Forces
English Northumberland forces
VS
Victor
Scots
Forces
Wallace c.10,000-15,000
Outcome
Hexham priory plundered; Corbridge burned; livestock and goods driven north; English communities of the Tyne valley devastated; raids continued through much of Northumberland.
The Battle

History & Significance

William Wallace's raid into northern England following his victory at Stirling Bridge in September 1297 included the sacking of Hexham and Corbridge — two of the principal towns of the Tyne valley. Hexham's Augustinian priory was plundered and its canons reportedly forced to sing Mass at spear-point. Corbridge, the site of the old Roman fort of Corstopitum and a significant market town, was burned. The raids demonstrated Wallace's ability to project Scottish power far south of the border and the complete inability of English border defences to resist following the disaster at Stirling Bridge.

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