BattlefieldsEnglish raid on Kelso 1544 and 1545
Tudor

English raid on Kelso 1544 and 1545

1544–1545
Roxburghshire, Scotland
Also known as: Burning of Kelso · Destruction of Kelso Abbey
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Roxburghshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scotland (Kelso garrison)
Forces
Kelso garrison c.50–150. Repeated raids on religious site.
VS
Victor
England
Forces
English forces c.2,000–5,000
Outcome
Kelso burned in 1544; Kelso Abbey used as fortress by surviving monks and townspeople before being stormed in Hertford's second raid 1545
The Battle

History & Significance

Kelso Abbey's destruction in two raids became a famous episode. During Hertford's second raid in 1545, twelve monks and about a hundred townspeople used the great tower as a fortress and held out until the English brought up artillery. All the defenders were killed. The episode illustrated both Scottish determination and the utter ruthlessness of English operations during the Rough Wooing.

Casualties & Losses

c.100 defenders killed when abbey tower stormed 1545

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Roxburghshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Roxburghshire