St Marys Chapel, Lead. North Yorkshire. Towton battlefield
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- St Marys Chapel, Lead, North Yorkshire.
The chapel dates from the 14th century and was probably the chapel for a medieval manor house which no longer exists. It is thought that it was built for the Tyas family. Additions were made to the chapel in the 18th century. There is evidence that an earlier chapel existed on the site, because in 1934 excavations revealed a grave slab dating from the 9th or 10th century, and the foundations of a larger church or chapel some 23 feet (7.0 m) long that contained two stone coffins.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries repairs to the chapel were carried out, and in 1912 it was incorporated into the parish of Saxton; before this time it had been a chapelry. However by 1931 it had fallen into ruin, but it was saved by a group of local ramblers. Repairs were carried out, the 18th-century communion rails were removed, the three-decker pulpit was moved into the northeast corner of the chapel, a stone altar was built, and the medieval altar slab was laid on its top. It is thought that the font was also moved at this time. On 6 November 1932 the chapel was re-dedicated. Further restoration work was carried out in 1934. Due to the decline of the local population later in the 20th century, the chapel was declared redundant, and it came under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust in 1980. It is now maintained privately.
The Chapel is in close proximity to the bloodiest battle to be held on British soil.
The Battle of Towton was fought during the English Wars of the Roses on 29 March 1461, near the village of Towton in Yorkshire. It brought about a change of monarchs in England, with the victor, the Yorkist Edward, Duke of York-who became King Edward IV (1461-1483) having displaced the Lancastrian King Henry VI (1422-1461) as king, and thus drove the head of the Lancastrians and his key supporters out of the country.
It is described as "probably the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil", though Boudicca's defeat at the Battle of Watling Street is also a contender. According to chroniclers, more than 50,000 soldiers from the Houses of York and Lancaster fought for hours amidst a snowstorm on that day, which was Palm Sunday. A newsletter circulated a week after the battle reported that 28,000 died on the battlefield.
I remember going to this church next to Cockbeck , the beck supposedly ran with blood for 24 hours because of the dead pileing up in it and forming a bridge of bodies. I'm living in Canada and married a girl from Preston lances. I have never yet returned to the UK but if we did this would be one of the places we would visit .
Would really like to see the battle site and church. Wondering if the church
is open to the public?
Hi, usually it is but I suppose the current circumstances may mean it might not be.
@@davidwhittworth1841 OK, thanks for replying.
It looks fitting for all those brave men , I dunno much of reading of this battle , having worked in some field systems in tha vale of York’s and County Durham I’ve felt the soils and a bito tha land and worked as hard as one could due to knowing a lil of what may be laid to rest beneath
When you get 15 minutes spare Andy have a search on the old interweb for Towton Battle, apparently more men died there in that one battle than at any other in the UK.
David Whittworth yes I read that too , makes me proud somehow ! Yet toiling in those surrounding field systems all over Yorkshire and Durham tha blooming weather in June and July sunshine red hot then snow hail wind sleet rain allll in a day , it does make me proud though and a think that’s why a looked a bit at our histories , a lot o good men on all sides fell am sure , yas right a think about tha battle, was it the snow and timing of our attack and the wind directions and their arrows not having tha favour of tha wind , and tha Yorkshire lads positioning , a bet there’s much we don’t know too ! The way the victors in history right about themselves, a dunno ?but av read tha lads were bloody brutal too