The Butts

This area is called The Butts and it is suggested that before the battle of Agincourt, Welsh archers practiced in this area by firing their arrows into the hill, as they could then collect them and reuse. The Butts literally means a target range for archery.

Welsh archers fought at the Battle of Agincourt for Henry V in 1415 and it is one of the most famous English military successes - but should it really be remembered as a victory for Wales? Marking a major turning point in the Hundred Years' War, the battle on 25 October was fought over the English kings' claim to the French throne. However, legend has it that at Agincourt - similar to the 1346 Battle of Crecy - Welsh longbowmen held the key to English success.

Henry V's army of around 8,000 was outnumbered by as much as five to one, yet 500 nimble-fingered Welsh archers were able to cut the heavily-armoured French knights to ribbons after cornering them in a narrow clearing. The biggest draw - then as now - was money. A longbowman could earn sixpence a day while a ploughman made twopence.




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