The Pilgrim Rabbit

Around and about St Mary’s Church Keeping you in touch May-June 2020 (Special issue)

While St Mary’s is closed for the duration of the COVID-19 situation we thought it would be useful to produce occasional issues of the Pilgrim Rabbit to maintain interest in the heritage of our beautiful church. Unfortunately we are not able to produce this as a physical copy at present, so please help us by sending this digital version on to anybody who might be interested. Anyone is able to opt in to receive future copies by emailing the church using the address on the back page.

The restoration of the Danish soldiers plaque By Roland Deller, St Mary’s Project Development Officer

2 With a footprint of 1552m , St Mary’s Measuring approximately 1m wide x significant moment John was by is classified by The Cathedral and 1.5m high, this piece of the church William’s side. John was appointed Church Buildings Division of the chronicles a momentous event in Governor of Hull, and the people Church of England as ‘very big’ – the the history of the town. It points to turned out on the streets to cheer top of its gauge! Virtually every stone the special part which Beverley and his return to Yorkshire. The statue of in our large church is in need of the East Riding played in a turbulent King Billy on his horse in Hull shows restoration. One of those stones– and significant period of British the area’s affection for this king. the oval tablet on the exterior of the history. Thus, contained in this little And in addition to bringing peace south side of the chancel, which can monument is a big story. And at the and stability to the country, William be seen from Ladygate – is known as heart of this particular story lies is credited with introducing it to gin! the ‘Danish soldiers plaque’ human tragedy. (reference number 34664 in the War Memorials Register kept by the Prologue: a Beverley Imperial War Museum). backdrop to a pivotal moment in history

Local man Sir John Hotham (grandson of another Sir John Hotham, who had refused Charles I entry to Hull in 1642, marking the beginning of the Civil War) was, like many Protestants in the country, nervous about having a Catholic King in James II – given the wranglings and bloodshed between Statue of King Billy in Hull (Photo: Protestants and Catholics over the Alamy) previous century and a half. He left in 1684 for the Protestant court of James II had fled to France and William of Orange in the gathered supporters, against whom Netherlands, who four years later William’s men fought in Ireland deposed James, becoming joint from 1689 – culminating in the sovereign of England with his wife Battle of the Boyne the following Mary. The ‘Glorious Revolution’ saw year. James’ army was no match for the beginning of modern that put together by William, who Danish soldiers plaque before the latest constitutional monarchy, and in this decay, undated (Photo: Alamy) was sent troops by Denmark, the

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Beverley. On 9 December 1689, near near 1689, December 9 On Beverley.

’ William under played s leadership. It It leadership. s

Chief, Duke Duke Chief, - in - Commander

temporarily billeted in and around around and in billeted temporarily

for the important role Danish soldiers soldiers Danish role important the for

jurisdiction of the Danish Danish the of jurisdiction

Many of these mercenaries were were mercenaries these of Many

Danish relations c.1690, and and c.1690, relations Danish - Anglo

martialled under the the under martialled - court was

responsible for pay and provisions. provisions. and pay for responsible

The plaque has historical interest for for interest historical has plaque The

it carried the death sentence. Bellow Bellow sentence. death the carried it rigsdaler while William was to be be to was William while rigsdaler

forbidden and when it caused death death caused it when and forbidden which Christian received 350,000 350,000 received Christian which

Christmas. celebrate to preparing

Articles of War duelling was was duelling War of Articles for for – women and cooks ’), pastours

this tragedy just as they were were they as just tragedy this

and died. According to Danish Danish to According died. and

d d ’ call they whom (‘ priests officers,

of Beverley were deeply touched by by touched deeply were Beverley of

duel Straker was gravely wounded wounded gravely was Straker duel Denmark, hiring 7000 men, including including men, 7000 hiring Denmark,

perhaps the good folk folk good the perhaps – ’ quarter free

themselves alone. During an ensuing ensuing an During alone. themselves signed a treaty with Christian V of of V Christian with treaty a signed

extreem kind to them and gave them them gave and them to kind extreem

girl? On 15 December they found found they December 15 On girl? In August that year, William had had William year, that August In

the English were, all over hereabouts, hereabouts, over all were, English the ‘

perhaps (the old, old story) over a a over story) old old, (the perhaps

and that that and ’ civil and kind and natured

James II vacated the throne). the vacated II James

– quarrelling been had Bülow),

- good mighty ‘ were troops Danish the

(crowned William III, April 1689, after after 1689, April III, William (crowned Streicher and almost certainly certainly almost and Streicher

incident; but Abraham asserts that that asserts Abraham but incident;

ships, in support of William of Orange Orange of William of support in ships, perhaps, in Danish, Danish, in perhaps, – names Danish

commemorate such a violent secular secular violent a such commemorate

disembarked in Hull from Danish Danish from Hull in disembarked s version of their their of version s ’ folk Yorkshire

It was unusual for a church to to church a for unusual was It

had had ’, seen ever was that any Frederick Bellow (clearly the the (clearly Bellow Frederick

d of of d ’ disciplin and d ’ equip best the ‘

Straker and Cornet Johannes Johannes Cornet and Straker inscription. verse English

Danish soldiers, soldiers, Danish ’ thousand seven or

two of them, Lieutenant Daniel Daniel Lieutenant them, of two Cuirassier who himself composed the the composed himself who Cuirassier

about six six about ‘ 1689 in late that diary his

During their crossing from Denmark, Denmark, from crossing their During at the expense of, the Danish Chief Chief Danish the of, expense the at

Church in Hull from 1698, records in in records 1698, from Hull in Church

engraved under instruction from, and and from, instruction under engraved

’ them. from cards the took but same 1704), curate at Holy Trinity Trinity Holy at curate 1704), - (1671

memorial plaque was made and and made was plaque memorial

the people would not abide the the abide not would people the

The antiquary Abraham de la Pryme Pryme la de Abraham antiquary The

s and that the the that and s ’ Mary St at side by

was over over was in many places places many in ‘ though –

record that the two were interred side side interred were two the that record

1689’ 23rd the December Sundays when the church service service church the when Sundays

however, allowed to play cards on on cards play to allowed however,

Blow. one at sever’d, was Sword With

s burial burial s ’ Mary St in recorded were

or six who were drunk. were who six or They were, were, They ’

s on 23 December) December) 23 on s ’ Bellow December, Law, own their by Head, other’s The

them them five five – winter all was that and –

s on 16 16 on s ’ (Straker burials ’ soldiers The

die; to chanc’d quarrell in one The witnessed when I was amongst amongst was I when witnessed

strong ale, strong I only only I ‘ wrote, Abraham ’ lye. Soliders Danish young two Here ‘ execution. the witness to mother her

observances. observances. Although they enjoyed enjoyed they Although ‘ age and, as a girl, had accompanied accompanied had girl, a as and, age

inscription: dramatic

social conduct and church church and conduct social Hopwood who lived to 104 years of of years 104 to lived who Hopwood

swords with gilded hilts above a a above hilts gilded with swords

They adhered to a strict discipline in in discipline strict a to adhered They turn had it from her mother, Mary Mary mother, her from it had turn

an oval plaque showing two crossed crossed two showing plaque oval an

word come out of their mouths their of out come word ’. ’. mother who lived to be 80 and who in in who and 80 be to lived who mother

Church in Beverley, East Yorkshire, is is Yorkshire, East Beverley, in Church

would never hear an oath or ugly ugly or oath an hear never would Southeran had the story from her her from story the had Southeran

s s ’ Mary St of chancel the of side

mighty godly and religious. You You religious. and godly mighty s neck. Mrs Mrs neck. s ’ Bellow upon fell England)

On an exterior buttress on the south south the on buttress exterior an On

[…] […] men fine stout, all ‘ were they last ever used for execution in in execution for used ever last

Abraham de la Pryme records that that records Pryme la de Abraham

women present when the sword (the (the sword the when present women

permission)

mercenaries around Beverley, Beverley, around mercenaries

shrieks were heard from the many many the from heard were shrieks

June 2019, and reproduced with kind kind with reproduced and 2019, June

Writing of his encounter with the the with encounter his of Writing

near and far. As St Mary St As far. and near s bell tolled, tolled, bell s ’

of Scandinavian Societies in the UK, in in UK, the in Societies Scandinavian of

order, for the event drew crowds from from crowds drew event the for order,

the magazine for the Confederation Confederation the for magazine the

Hull. to back got some

surrounded the scaffold to ensure ensure to scaffold the surrounded

(first published in CoScan Magazine, Magazine, CoScan in published (first

Other ships were blown to Holland; Holland; to blown were ships Other

soak up the blood. Mounted soldiers soldiers Mounted blood. the up soak

suffered imprisonment and torture. torture. and imprisonment suffered

were scattered around the base to to base the around scattered were English

Catholics) the men men the Catholics) - non (as where

place and two cartloads of gravel gravel of cartloads two and place by Hanne Hamilton and Barbara Barbara and Hamilton Hanne by

ships were blown to Catholic France, France, Catholic to blown were ships

A scaffold was erected in the market the in erected was scaffold A -

’ lye Soldiers North Sea scattered the fleet. Some Some fleet. the scattered Sea North

Catholic rebels; but a storm in the the in storm a but rebels; Catholic Here two young Danish Danish young two Here ‘ Westwood Road, Beverley. Road, Westwood

Duke of Schomberg, quell the Irish Irish the quell Schomberg, of Duke - year - 86 the by old Mrs Southeran of of Southeran Mrs old

command, Frederick, Frederick, command, - in - second recalled having been told it in 1830, 1830, in it told been having recalled

Hamilton: Hanne and English s s ’ William help to Ireland for Hull Beverley, who was alive in 1892, 1892, in alive was who Beverley,

whose story is now told by Barbara Barbara by told now is story whose mercenaries duly embarked from from embarked duly mercenaries execution. Mr Empson, freeman of of freeman Empson, Mr execution.

large international historical canvas, canvas, historical international large memorialized soldiers. The The soldiers. memorialized preserved of events on the day of the the of day the on events of preserved

poignant personal figures against a a against figures personal poignant and not only for the two two the for only not and account of what local tradition tradition local what of account

Danish troops were two soldiers, soldiers, two were troops Danish fated transaction, transaction, fated - ill an proved This s archives there is an an is there archives s ’ Beverley In

and highly trained. Amongst these these Amongst trained. highly and

William. King to loyalty of oath outcome was known in advance. in known was outcome number in large France, of factions

York, the Danish Corps swore an an swore Corps Danish the York, Ferdinand Wilhelm. The grim grim The Wilhelm. Ferdinand Protestant the and Netherlands,

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easier to miss, amidst the busy traffic traffic busy the amidst miss, to easier

metres), the spire of this splendid splendid this of spire the metres),

s Rooms, alongside the the alongside Rooms, s ’ Priest the

s Church is much much is Church s ’ Seamen Danish The

At an impressive 208 feet (63 (63 feet 208 impressive an At

further damage, and will be stored in in stored be will and damage, further

Hull Church, s ’ Seamen Danish plaque will be made safe to prevent prevent to safe made be will plaque

Dalton South Church, s ’ Mary St

us lives in Driffield! The original original The Driffield! in lives us

porch. the in flowers story: the to linked across the land, who conveniently for for conveniently who land, the across

intricate stone carvings of fruits and and fruits of carvings stone intricate

carver, in demand with cathedrals cathedrals with demand in carver,

Two heritage sites in the area area the in sites heritage Two

pews, coloured floor tiles, and and tiles, floor coloured pews, Micklethwaite, a renowned stone stone renowned a Micklethwaite,

lizards and dragons carved into the the into carved dragons and lizards

The work will be undertaken by Alan Alan by undertaken be will work The soldiers. Danish

others). The church also features features also church The others).

moment in history, and the two two the and history, in moment

Riding churches and restored many many restored and churches Riding

think of King Billy, and this key key this and Billy, King of think

Architect) Inspecting Cathedral; he built a dozen East East dozen a built he Cathedral;

celebrating that this year, maybe maybe year, this that celebrating

state (Photo courtesy of Andy Burrell, Burrell, Andy of courtesy (Photo state

England and designed Truro Truro designed and England

June. If you are are you If June. 13 on month

The Danish soldiers plaque in its current current its in plaque soldiers Danish The

on over 200 ecclesiastical buildings in in buildings ecclesiastical 200 over on

World Gin Day takes place next next place takes Day Gin World

Loughborough Pearson (who worked worked (who Pearson Loughborough

from the renowned architect John John architect renowned the from London. to Copenhagen from

this new church in the late 1850s 1850s late the in church new this artisan bakeries which now reaches reaches now which bakeries artisan

Lord Hotham, when he commissioned commissioned he when Hotham, Lord forming the fashionable chain of of chain fashionable the forming

church by his descendent, another another descendent, his by church great Danish bakers, Ole & Steen, Steen, & Ole bakers, Danish great

The tomb was moved from an older older an from moved was tomb The whose was bringing together two two together bringing was whose

equity firm, a claim to fame of of fame to claim a firm, equity

for a leading Scandinavian private private Scandinavian leading a for licence) Commons Creative

spent my career in London working working London in career my spent Dalton. (Photo: Austen Redman, Redman, Austen (Photo: Dalton.

opportunity to travel there. I then then I there. travel to opportunity Baronet in St Mary's Church, South South Church, Mary's St in Baronet

Monument to Sir John Hotham 2nd 2nd Hotham John Sir to Monument lovely Danes here, and I had the the had I and here, Danes lovely

to Aarhus: we welcomed some some welcomed we Aarhus: to

work experience exchange scheme scheme exchange experience work

privilege of going on a European European a on going of privilege

growing up in Beverley, I had the the had I Beverley, in up growing

coming to fruition. As a sixth former former sixth a As fruition. to coming

great pleasure to see this project project this see to pleasure great

through my life, and so it gives me me gives it so and life, my through

connections have run like a thread thread a like run have connections

town. On a personal note, Danish Danish note, personal a On

significant piece of history for the the for history of piece significant

telephone 01482 865205. 01482 telephone

hung in its place, to preserve this this preserve to place, its in hung

[email protected]; or or [email protected]; carve an exact replica, which will be be will which replica, exact an carve

s mortality. mortality. s ’ man of viewer

Beverley, HU17 8BA; by email to to email by 8BA; HU17 Beverley, permission has been received to to received been has permission

a prominent skeleton to remind the the remind to skeleton prominent a a gift: by post to 2 Wheatsheaf Lane, Lane, Wheatsheaf 2 to post by gift: a beyond repair, the good news is that that is news good the repair, beyond

leaning on his right elbow is featured featured is elbow right his on leaning Mansfield, if you would like to make make to like would you if Mansfield, carved. Whilst it has been deemed deemed been has it Whilst carved.

underneath an effigy of Sir John John Sir of effigy an underneath

Please contact our treasurer, Anne Anne treasurer, our contact Please plaque at various times since it was was it since times various at plaque

return from the Netherlands; Netherlands; the from return s history. history. s ’ town the of piece precious intentioned painting of the the of painting intentioned - well

1689, very shortly after his heralded heralded his after shortly very 1689, you would be helping to preserve a a preserve to helping be would you in part owing to to owing part in – illegible becoming

tomb of Sir John Hotham, who died in in died who Hotham, John Sir of tomb interested in making a donation: donation: a making in interested weathered and the lettering is fast fast is lettering the and weathered

miles around. In pride of place is the the is place of pride In around. miles delighted to hear from anyone anyone from hear to delighted Sadly the plaque is now severely severely now is plaque the Sadly

East Riding, and can be seen from from seen be can and Riding, East to be raised and we would be be would we and raised be to

Gothic church is the tallest in the the in tallest the is church Gothic - neo the project. A small amount remains remains amount small A project. the

resolve. to the monies needed to undertake undertake to needed monies the to

question it could be interesting to to interesting be could it question anonymous donors, for contributing contributing for donors, anonymous Alamy)

commemorated thus in Beverley is a a is Beverley in thus commemorated s, Beverley Civic Society, and and Society, Civic Beverley s, ’ Mary s Church, South Dalton (Photo: (Photo: Dalton South Church, s ’ Mary St

a memory of ancestors ancestors of memory a hugely grateful to the Friends of St St of Friends the to grateful hugely

family members still exist to preserve preserve to exist still members family approximately £6000. We are are We £6000. approximately

or their dates of birth. Whether any any Whether birth. of dates their or The Danish Plaque project will cost cost will project Plaque Danish The

precisely who the two officers were, were, officers two the who precisely

rooms. those in environment yet proved possible to establish establish to possible proved yet

central heating and constant constant and heating central serving in a foreign land. It has not not has It land. foreign a in serving

been well preserved by the lack of of lack the by preserved well been written records of Danish mercenaries mercenaries Danish of records written

array of artefacts there, which have have which there, artefacts of array is also the earliest among modern modern among earliest the also is

We want to hear from you

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of Ferensway, but represents a Red letter day for St fascinating piece of Hull history. Mary’s and the curious Given the city’s trading past, Danish carvings project ships docked in Hull with cargoes of By Roland Deller cattle, bacon, butter and corn, and by the nineteenth century Hull had a We are thrilled to announce that at sizeable Danish population. The first 7am on Monday 22nd June St Mary’s Danish Seamen’s Church in the world, will be launching a brand new history St Nikolaj was established in 1871 to section of its website. These pages serve seamen, Danish residents and will provide visitors with some Richard II on the ceiling of kings (Photo: Scandinavian emigrants temporarily attractive new content celebrating John Duncan) resident in Hull en route to the New the history and heritage of our famous Wilton Diptych – the small World. Today’s 1950s building beautiful church, written especially by portable diptych painted for replaced the older church damaged in our very own Dr Jennie England. We Richard, now in the National Gallery. the war, and continues to support the hope that the pages will also entice In a future blog, Jennie will be taking Scandinavian community in the people who have never visited St a closer look at Richard II as well as region. It also houses a small classical Mary’s before to plan a trip for when other kings on our ceiling. -style organ by the world-renowned it is safe and permitted to do so. This Danish firm Frobenius. will build on the new series of heritage video podcasts which we And a little further afield… have released on the site in recent weeks, which we hope you have been In Aarhus, the celebrated Moesgaard enjoying! museum has a particularly fine collection of Danish swords, well 22nd June will be an auspicious day to worth a visit if/when international go live as it is also the day on which travel is safe and permitted. The we release to the national media the museum also contains, amongst its story of the new carvings inspired by Wilton Diptych (Photo: National Gallery, thousands of artifacts, Hørning The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. Wikimedia Commons licence) Church (a reconstructed early Danish The models for those carvings have For now, we leave you with a photo stave church), and the world’s best now been approved by The CS Lewis rd of our white stag boss – preserved bog body, from the 3 Company Ltd and so it is full steam appropriately, a creature which also century BC. ahead with the stone carving by appears in The Lion, the Witch and Matthias, his partner Kibby – who the Wardrobe. designed the carvings - and their team of craftsmen. 22nd June also happens to be the day on which the reign of Richard II began in 1377. One of the kings of England featured on our magnificent chancel ceiling, Richard’s personal badge was Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus Denmark the white hart (an archaic word for a (photo courtesy of Media Department mature stag). The white hart appears Moesgaard Museum) in the painting of Richard II on St White stag boss (Photo: John Duncan) Mary’s ceiling, as it does in the Page 4

St Mary’s Church, North Bar Within, Beverley, HU17 8DL. Tel: 01482 869137