Hadley Highstone is a 12 ft high stone obelisk that was erected sometime around 1740 by Sir Jeremy Sambrook in remembrance of the Battle of Barnet that took place between Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick, in the 14th of April 1471.
The area surrounding the monument is protected as London’s only registered battlefield site and the monument itself was recently refurbished in order to prepare for for the Deputy Mayor of Barnet to place a wreath at its base in order to mark the 550th anniversary of the conflict.
The battle was one of many that occurred during the War of the Roses in the 15th century. One of England’s most infamous military engagements, the Wars of the Roses was a struggle for power between the rival houses of Lancaster and York.
The Battle of Barnet was fought at around 4 o’clock in the morning on the mist-covered battlefield at a place called Gladmore Heath which is now believed to in and/or around Hadley. The Earl of Warwick led an army of 15,000 men against Edward IV.
Though visibility was low, the armies engaged. Warwick's side succeeded in routing one of the flanks of Edward's army, and pursued them back to Barnet. Upon returning, they mistook the badge of another of Warwick's commanders (a star with streams of light) for the badge of their enemy Edward (a sun with rays). This caused them to unknowingly attack their own men, who soon panicked and fled. Warwick lost the battle and was killed.
On Wednesday the 14th of April this year, a socially distanced ceremony was organised to celebrate the historical event. Two wreaths, each one representing a rival house, were laid at the monument. Heraldic banners which were painted by volunteers at Barnet Museum were also put on display in the High Street and in the Spires shopping centre. Locals and visitors are welcomed to visit the site within Covid restrictions.
