Crécy-en-Ponthieu

The memorial plaque to King Jean of Bohemia

Click on the thumbnails for a larger picture

The Lantern for Richard I, and John Sans Terre - The Battle of Crécy Memorial

Crécy en Ponthieu is a small town about twenty minutes driving north of Abbeville and about the same from the Bay of the Somme.

Apart from the nearby battlefield there are other connections to the English. Driving through the town you will see a medieval lantern in the square.

This was raised in 1189 by Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England and Countess of Ponthieu, on behalf of her two sons who had gone off to the third Crusade: Richard I The Lionheart, and his brother John (Of Magna Carta and Robin Hood fame).

On a side note, it was the Count Guy of Ponthieu who had captured Harold (Later King of England) and handed him over to William Duke of Normandy, who would later conquer Harold and England in 1066.

Just behind the lantern is the memorial to those French who fell in the battle.

There are sign posts to the battlefield which lies a two minute drive from this memorial. Follow the directions for the Moulin Edward III which is about 150 metres out the road towards Wadicourt.

There is a small parking area on the left.

Unfortunately the tower seems to be used as a local drinking den and is in a dilapidated state.

However you can get a good view of the battlefield from Edward's position and it is possible to read between the graffiti on the plaque to get an idea as to who was where.