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The Battle of Deptford Bridge took place on 17 June 1497 on a site in present-day Deptford in south-east London, adjacent to the River Ravensbourne.
Rebels from Cornwall, led by Michael An Gof (AKA Michael Joseph; An Gof is Cornish for blacksmith) and Thomas Flamank (a Bodmin landowner's son), had marched on London aiming to free Cornwall of its Norman rulers. En route, they gathered support from forces led by James Touchet (Lord Audley) in Somerset.
After fighting a minor battle near Guildford, Surrey, they were hopeful of gaining further support from people in Kent (the focus of Jack Cade's rebellion of 1450), but despite rallying at Cade's meeting place at nearby Blackheath were disappointed.
As a result, the Cornish rebels were soundly beaten by King Henry VII's forces led by Lord Daubeney. Much of the battle took place on the eastern side of the Ravensbourne, on the hillside up to the plateau of Blackheath - as a result, it is sometimes called the 'Battle of Blackheath'.
The three leaders (An Gof, Flamank and Audley) were all executed, on 24 June 1497. An Gof and Flamank suffered the traitor's fate of being hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, while Audley was beheaded on Tower Hill. Their heads were displayed on pike-staffs on London Bridge.
