BattlefieldsHarrying of the North -- Wear valley
Medieval

Harrying of the North -- Wear valley

1069
Durham, England
Also known as: Norman devastation Weardale 1069 · Burning of Weardale
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Durham, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Weardale communities
Forces
local militias c. 200-500; systematic devastation of valley communities.
VS
Victor
William I
Forces
Norman forces c. 500-1,500
Outcome
Valley settlements burned; upland communities destroyed or fled
The Battle

History & Significance

The burning of Weardale communities completed the systematic destruction of County Durham and ensured the total absence of any English military capacity north of the Humber for years afterward.

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