Dickon Independent Issue 90

Richard III From the Editor Sadly this issue says goodbye to our founder Janet Long, without whom there would be no Worcestershire Branch. Her long and happy association with the branch is remembered on pages 3 - 7. Society Happy Christmas everyone! What a fantastic year it has been with the discovery of the remains of King Richard III. Next year will be just as exciting when he is finally laid to rest in a tomb befitting his status as a King of England. There’s a definite Yorkshire flavour to this magazine with reports from Judy Jacobs, Ashley Mantle and Lindsay Gibson on the Ricardian delights of that county. Contents Magazine of the Worcestershire Branch Janet Long ...... 3 - 7 Book Reviews ...... 8 - 10 Middleham Castle & The King’s Grave ...... 11 - 13 My Ricardian Holiday ...... 13 - 17 Richard III Museum In York ...... 18 - 19 Branch Meetings...... 19 - 27 Visit To Knowle Parish Church And Temple Balsall - September 14 ...... 19 - 21 Sir Thomas More - October 12 ...... 22 - 24 Tedstone Wafre And The Mortimer Connection - November 9 ...... 24 - 27 Latest News ...... 27 Cover Illustration

A montage of images from Bosworth composed by Judy Jacobs. Illustrations

Janet Long And Other Members ...... 5 Middleham Castle (Judy Jacobs)...... 11 Richard III In The Dock (Ashley mantle)...... 14 Barnard Castle Boar (Ashley Mantle)...... 16 & 17 Issue 90 December 2013 2 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90

On October 30th 1987 the Malvern Gazette and Ledbury Reporter Janet Long contained an article about the group. At the 1989 AGM Janet became chairman. We were still meeting in people’s houses in those days and remember getting a letter asking if I would like to join a Hereford Janet frequently welcomed us all to her home. The rest of the time we and Worcester Group of the Richard III Society, and nervously going visited as many places associated with Richard III as we could. Ialong to the first meeting at Janet’s house. I needn’t have worried Jane Tinklin worked with Janet for Commercial Union in the Kay’s as I liked her immediately and she made us all feel very welcome. building and Janet persuaded her to join the group in 1988.

Let Janet now take up the story: Janet takes up the story again: “In 1986 five of us decided to try to get a local Ricardian group off the “By 1990 our small band had grown considerably and it was agreed to ground. We were given permission for a ‘one-off’ letter to all members apply to the society for branch status as we now felt that we met the within the Hereford and Worcester area, calling an inaugural meeting for criteria. It was decided to ‘divorce’ the two counties thereby leaving any 12 April 1986. As the day drew nearer panic set in - what if no-one came; future Hereford members free to start their own group should they wish what if there were too many people to fit into the room; whose barmy idea to do so. Thanks must go to Lesley for all her hard work at this time, so was this anyway!! All my fears were unnecessary as we had a very good that our being accepted as a branch went through without a hitch. meeting with an excellent turnout. I found myself elected as secretary. Janet and Lesley were featured in an article in the Worcester Evening The first year we decided to go as a group to Bosworth. We had only News on January 11th 1990, with Janet saying: “I had always thought that met four times but nevertheless off we went, fourteen of us on a fifty-two Richard had been hard done by. I believe that he was very brave; that seater coach - plenty of room for luggage! Our first Christmas dinner was Henry was the coward.” held at the Bear and Ragged Staff, Bransford, a name we thought most Four of us attended Kevin Down’s weekend course in Ludlow in 1991 appropriate as a venue until we discovered that the restaurant was called entitled ‘Richard III - Good or Bad’. We had a wonderful weekend and did ‘Cobblers’. our best to fight our corner, not believing him for one moment when he In 1987 we had our first weekend in York, travelling to Middleham via told us he had joined the society!” Jervaulx on the Sunday. As I had never visited any of these places before I found everything new and exciting, but one memory must remain The first issue of Dickon Independent coincided with King Richard’s and that is of Vi Roberts (of the Gloucester Branch - two of whose birthday in October 1991. Amongst other outings we attended the re- members came with us) dodging the cow pats at Jervaulx in her slippers, enactment of the battle of Tewkesbury, and visited Bosworth and York as she had walked too far round York the day before then gone to the again. Janet arranged for us to see Sheriff Hutton castle this time, and banquet and ended up with dreadful blisters. Alan her husband also joined the party, as he did many other outings. Also in 1987 Ros and I went to talk to the Worcester Probus club. It In 1993 Janet organised another article in the Worcester Evening didn't bode well when their chairman introduced us by saying that we News which appeared on August 21st, together with a black and white were going to talk about: “Richard III, the humpy back king who did away picture of a group of us in Janet’s garden with a portrait of Richard and a with the princes in the Tower”. Full of righteous indignation we set forth bunch of white roses. Next day, the anniversary, we were visiting to put the record straight.” Bosworth again. At the 1994 AGM Janet stood down and Ralph Richardson took over

3 4 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 as chairman. On the 17th November the Worcester Evening News had abbey in 1536. Then to the abbey to see a modern memorial stone to another article about Richard III, to publicise Michael S. Bennett’s book Llewellyn as it is believed he was buried there following his murder by Richard III - On Trial for Murder. Michael is the founder of the Richard III English forces in December 1282. Then on to Cilmeri to see the Museum in York. This time the paper used the same photo from 1993 but monument to Llewellyn close to where he was slain. in colour: In 1997 we started to hire halls for meetings as there were too many members squashing into people’s homes, such was the success of the group started by Janet back in 1986. I had various articles over the years from her for Dickon Independent. Janet also spent much time researching her family tree and was horrified to discover that her great, great, great grandfather came from Lancashire and moved to Wales! In 2001 she had an operation and spent a long time convalescing at home, but was back with us to visit Great Malvern Priory in April 2002, and wrote a very funny verse about it for the magazine. Fortunately being ill never affected her wicked sense of humour, and the week before she died she was exchanging naughty emails with Lesley. Until about 2006 I was regularly picking up Janet and Lesley to take to meetings. Lesley was the best at map reading. When Janet and I went to Belbroughton without Lesley in 2008, we got hopelessly lost trying to get home and had to ask in a garden centre for directions! Justin her son confirmed how frustrated she was at having to miss meetings: “There were so many times when Mum asked me if I would give her a lift to the meeting, then when it came to the day in question, her health let her down.” I am just glad that she lived long enough to know King Richard’s remains had been found, that he wasn’t a hunchback, and Margaret Gregory, Janet Long, Jean Edwards, Jan Reynolds, Pat Parminter, Mary to see his reconstructed head. Friend, Jane Tinklin, Pam Benstead in Janet’s garden August 1993 I have a lovely white rose brooch given to me by Janet, and also a mug with a white boar on it which she’d donated as a raffle prize. Janet then produced her tour de force in honour of her other historical The last meeting attended by Janet was a talk by Steve Goodchild on favourite, Llewellyn the Last, the last native Prince of Wales. On 16th July the battle of Tewkesbury at Upton Snodsbury, on 12 June 2010. 1995 a convoy of cars set out for Wales. Janet did a brilliant job Unfortunately she wasn’t well enough to attend our 25th anniversary organising it all on what was a very long but fascinating day out. banquet but she had been at the 10th and 20th celebrations. Llewellyn married Eleanor de Montfort in Worcester Cathedral before taking her home to Wales. We went to Llanidloes Church, to see the arches from Cwmhir Abbey, moved there after Henry VIII dissolved the

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From Lesley Scott: Book Reviews One of my fondest memories of some years ago was coming back from a Ricardian meeting with Janet, Pam and Jean discussing who Richard III: A Small Guide To The Great Debate By Annette Carson would play which character if Sharon Penman's book Sunne in Splendour was turned in to a film. Sean Bean or String Bean as he was fondly called Copies on sale at our December meeting! then, was unanimously voted to play Richard. More recently she liked the irony of the lovely Welsh actor Aneurin nnette Carson’s slim volume was published just in time for it to Barnard playing Richard in Philippa Gregory's The White Queen. I feature on the Worcestershire Branch’s stall at the Tewkesbury thought he was spot on. With our Welsh connections we were both Medieval Festival. It proved a best seller and all copies were pro Llewellyn. (The Prince of Wales). A snapped up by lunchtime. The author has produced a winner. The book I respected her not only for founding The H&W Group and being the does exactly what it claims to do: it begins with the exciting discovery of first secretary, but also for promoting it to Worcestershire Branch status Richard III’s bones, sets out the “Black Legend” and then explains where during her Chairmanship. Also for standing up to those who consider us the evidence fails to support the accusations, as well as where it does a bunch of yokels. Her 'Country Bumpkin' will not be forgotten. reveal a far better king. There are simplified family trees which show how We shared many funny/saucy emails, the most recent was so naughty claims to the throne were inherited and a brief section on the it had me snorting with laughter. We were growing old disgracefully. historiography of Richard’s detractors and of his apologists. I hope she now has some answers to the many Ricardian mysteries. The chapter on “The Real Richard III” shows that there was praise for him when still Duke of Gloucester and explains his well-documented Janet was born in 1945 on 23rd October and died on 13th November improvements to the administration of justice when king. Annette Carson 2013. Her funeral was on November 28th at Worcester Crematorium at also gives some examples of Richard’s religious benefactions and his 3.30pm. The chapel was full to overflowing with several people having to grants to ordinary people. These details of his good kingship are stand, such was her popularity. Her son Justin made a lovely speech in contrasted with what the author shows to be unsubstantiated stories honour of his wonderful Mum. Afterwards everyone went to the New Inn about his seizing of the throne and the supposed murder of the Princes for refreshments and the chance to view a photo slide-show of her life. in the Tower. She demonstrates clearly that the fate of the princes was, Donations for Shelter and The Brooke were requested rather than flowers. and remains, unknown because there is simply no reliable evidence of Janet was a keen supporter of The Brooke, which provides help to what happened to them. She does allow herself to speculate about what working animals in other countries such as shade for donkeys that spend could have happened, but she makes it absolutely clear that she is only their lives carrying bricks. They also fund training for vets in Asia. discussing what would not have been impossible, such as the boys’ In alphabetical order, Pam and Bill Benstead, Jean Edwards, Lesley removal via the Tower’s Watergate to the Thames and thence to safety Scott, June Tilt and Jane Tinklin all attended. Mary Friend, Pat Parminter, abroad. She also shows how the sudden rumour, and it was only a Jan Reynolds, Ralph Richardson, Joan Ryder, Val Sibley and Kathleen rumour not a report of any substance, that the princes were both dead in Whitehouse were unable to go due to prior commitments or illness and all September 1483 only benefited the Tudor-Beaufort party, as sent messages of sympathy. Buckingham’s planned rebellion, supported by the Woodvilles, was to restore Edward V; if he was dead the revolt had to have a new contender Pam Benstead for the throne and thus Henry Tudor was able to step forward.

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This is an excellent book. Annette Carson sets out the main points of relatively contemporary ones such as Mancini and Polydore Vergil as well both sides of the “Great Debate” succinctly and encourages the reader to as modern biographers like Michael Hicks and Michael Jones and shows investigate further; she modestly suggests her own Richard III: the their relative viewpoints and prejudices. Added to this she includes as Maligned King as a starting point – readers could do much worse. This many contemporary reports on life in the fifteenth century, experts in new Small Guide is the perfect gift for the friend who asks how anatomy (“the bones”), architecture (the Bloody Tower), and research into Shakespeare could possibly be wrong about Richard III. wills in her quest for the truth. She draws heavily on work done by John Ashdown-Hill, Anne Sutton Carol Southworth and Livia Visser-Fuchs, and frequently quotes articles which have appeared in The Ricardian in her desire to paint an all round picture of her Richard III: The Maligned King By Annette Carson subject. She goes into considerable detail on the subject of the famous bones found in the Tower, Edward’s bigamous marriage, Henry Tudor’s Annette still has copies of the hardback commemorative edition of spurious claim to the throne, and the death of Hastings. Her conclusions Maligned King for sale. Discounted price for Ricardians £18 plus postage regarding Margaret Beaufort are totally in line with Geoffrey Richardson’s. £3, and if wanted in time for Christmas she can send first class directly to I found her style clear and concise, very readable in fact, and am sure the gift recipient. Order by email to: [email protected]. this book will do a great deal towards opening up a reassessment of some of the widely known (and wrongly assumed) truths about Richard. I he second edition of this book incorporates the discovery of heartily recommend it to everyone. Richard’s remains, with all the new information that provides. Judith Sealey TAnnette joined the Looking For Richard Project at the request of Philippa Langley, as she was inspired by the first edition. The Adventure Of The Bloody Tower By Donald MacLachlan Like the Small Guide this book is extremely readable but covers more of Richard’s reign in greater detail. Annette goes straight to the heart of ow to a work of fiction about Richard III, written in the style of the what Ricardians are up against in her preface, when she writes: “Among Sherlock Holmes stories. Only this time it is Dr John Watson them was the determination of most historians to place negative Ndoing the investigation in 1883, and meeting such luminaries as interpretations on Richard’s actions, while applauding the career of deceit Clements Markham and James Gairdner. and underhandedness that characterized his nemesis, Henry VII.” I received a review copy from the author which I will put in our branch Judith Sealey reviewed the book when it first came out in 2008 and her library. I am enjoying it immensely though I haven’t finished it yet. comments are still true, so I am reproducing her report: Dr Watson knows nothing about Richard and his times so the people This is an excellent book, just published, by a hitherto unknown to me he interviews provide all the facts he needs. It makes for an extremely author. Annette Carson isn’t your usual academic, in fact she has a readable and interesting refresher course in Ricardian history. background in music and has written about such diverse subjects as I particularly like Donald’s description of Sir Thomas More, courtesy of aerobatics and the guitarist Jeff Beck, but don’t be put off by this - her Henry Baker, who is a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London in the book on Richard is the result of a lifetime’s interest in the subject and book and who refers to Sir Thomas as Master More-Fiction-than-Fact. demonstrates a wealth of scholarly research. Annette Carson examines in depth the various writers on Richard, both Pam Benstead

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storage rooms, etc. There was also a mill, still clearly visible and Middleham Castle & The King’s Grave assumed to have been worked by horses. In the bailey stands a grotesque sculpture of Richard III, crafted by Linda Thompson in 1996 t the beginning of this month I spent a few days staying with and commissioned by English Heritage and the Middleham Key friends in the Durham Village where I once lived. Partnership. He is represented, allegorically, under the influence of a A On the first day we set off up Wensleydale to visit Middleham basilisk and a medieval devil. Details of this can be found in the gallery Castle. In my mind Middleham had always been associated with on the Richard III Society website. racehorse training and I had never seen the castle, having moved away The site of the original castle, a motte-and-bailey structure, can be from the area before I caught the Richard III bug from Sharon Penman seen on a ridge of high ground to the south west of the present castle. twenty years ago. Little is known of the history or construction of this defensive position. This bug came out of incubation when I turned on the radio one Unfortunately, we did not visit the church due to information that there morning in 2012 and heard that a skeleton had been found which could was nothing to see there. What a shame! The visit was concluded with well be the remains of Richard. I was very excited and eagerly a visit to the Richard III public house for lunch. anticipated the results of the DNA testing. On the day that the match was A few days before I travelled north, I discovered to my joy that Philippa confirmed I joined the Richard III Society and my life has changed. Langley and Michael Jones would be at Bosworth with their new book, Back to Wensleydale.... Approaching Middleham up the dale as we The King’s Grave, on the very day that I would be travelling home down did, there was little to be seen, just a few glimpses of the English Heritage the M42. I quickly got online and bought myself a ticket for the occasion. flag. It was a very grey day and climbing up towards the town, the castle I arrived at Bosworth in good time and had a welcome pot of tea and was hidden behind the other buildings. Once there, however, it was very something to eat. spectacular, covering a huge area. We were surprised that the top storey The book-signing was held in the Heritage Room. Philippa and of the keep had large rectangular windows. It seems that the keep was Michael were introduced to us by Eddie, the Head Trail Guide at the altered, the walls being extended upwards and a new storey being added centre. towards the end of the Philippa spoke first about how she had initially been inspired by Paul fifteenth century, with Murray Kendall’s book Richard the Third (1955) and instantly felt bonded larger windows to give to Richard although puzzled about the way his character seemed to more light to the change on taking the throne. However, on reading Michael K. Jones’ interior. book Bosworth 1485 (2002) everything had clicked into place and her Looking down from determination to find Richard’s grave was born. the battlements into At this point Michael took over and explained that he became involved the interior, in addition with writing the book about Bosworth with little knowledge of Richard III, to the great hall and except the Shakespeare version, thus having a more open mind. He also the great chamber, a had the advantage of more research material than had previously been l a r g e r a n g e o f available. His theory is quite different and very plausible. domestic areas could Philippa then took up her story with the research she had done over be seen; kitchens, the years. She talked about the work that she and John Ashdown-Hill had

11 12 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 undertaken with the medieval maps, trying to pinpoint the likely site of the and the impact it would have while entering the city. It was amazing to burial, followed by her efforts to interest those who were in a position to imagine all the monarchs who would have entered through this gate, carry out the necessary work and her search for funding. including Richard himself. Michael went on to talk about the battle and about what he believed to I also paid a visit to the Richard III be Richard’s state of mind. He finished by praising Richard’s courage to museum, located in Monk Bar. Monk the end. Bar itself is of particular interest as it I have now read both the books, duly signed, and enjoyed them very houses the only original working much. They are both well written and difficult to put down. portcullis in the gatehouses, although it It was good to visit Bosworth again, this time on a very grey day has not been operated since the threatening rain, with lots of schoolchildren in evidence. I had a dreadful 1970s. Also the top floor, which is part drive south on the M42 in driving rain afterwards, but it was well worth it. of the museum, was added by Richard. The museum itself was interesting, and Judy Jacobs set out as a debate on the subject of who killed the Princes in the Tower. The information is provided in a variety of ways, such as mock-up newspapers of how the events leading up to, and after the princes’ disappearance, would have been reported My Ricardian Holiday today. This was a nice touch and it presented the events in a clear and easy to understand way. At the centre of the museum is a mock trial, or my holiday this year I went to the north of England, and stayed where a model of Richard stands at the dock. An audio tape plays over at Hartlepool. While there I took the opportunity to visit some speakers where Richard is cross examined, and then the audience is Fsites of Ricardian interest. Although not Ricardian or medieval, invited to vote who they think was guilty; either Richard, Henry VII, Hartlepool itself is worth a visit for those of you who are interested in Buckingham or natural causes/they survived. You will be pleased to know naval history, as it is home to the Trincomalee, a 19th century frigate, and I voted “they survived”. the oldest warship still afloat in Europe. It is situated in Hartlepool’s The top floor had a bit about the discovery of Richard’s bones, historic dockyard, which has been designed to look as an authentic sea including a display of the skeleton, detailing the battle injuries and other port from the days the ‘Trinc’ was in service. points of interest, such as his scoliosis. My first Ricardian related trip was to the city of York. It was my first Of interest is the original portcullis mechanism, which you are still able visit to York, and it did not disappoint! For those of us interested in to turn, although it does not operate the portcullis itself. There was also history, York is a gold mine. It was great walking the old city walls, and a small prison cell, known as the “Little Ease,” which had been used to th visiting the old gatehouses. Of particular interest was Micklegate Bar, the hold captive Catholics in the 16 century. spot where the severed heads of Richard of York and his son Edmund I noted some flyers asking for people to sign the petition to have were put on display after the disastrous battle of Wakefield. Although the Richard’s remains “returned home” to York. area under the gate has been modernised as a roadway into the city I found the museum fun, although I feel it is more aimed at those with (making it slightly harder to appreciate the building when cars are coming little or limited knowledge of Richard, as all the information it provided was at you!), it is easy to imagine how this historic scene would have looked already known to me. The setting of the gatehouse itself was worth the

13 14 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 admission alone. The gift shop had many great items for sale and some The remnants of a sixteenth century horse mill are situated in the unique items such as “The Trial of Richard III” audio CD. south range, which is quite apt as Middleham’s other claim to fame is that Next I visited Richard’s adopted home of Middleham Castle. of breeding race horses. Middleham itself is a quaint little village of Georgian and Victorian Stood in the outer bailey is the somewhat controversial statue for properties clustered around the castle, which towers above. There was Ricardians of Richard by Linda Thompson, complete with a basilisk even a property, called Castle Lodge, situated literally next to the castle, wrapped around his back. It is a great sculpture, but it was a shame the on sale! Outside the castle are the remains of “the cross,” which is said artist had to go with the Tudor view of Richard. to commemorate the grant of a twice yearly fair and market by Richard My final Ricardian themed visit was to Barnard Castle. Although not when Duke of Gloucester. as majestic, or indeed complete, as Middleham Castle, Barnard is still The castle itself, although now in ruins, is still impressive. It is easy to very much worth a visit. Richard visited the castle for the last time in May imagine how grand this “palace of the north” would have been in Warwick 1484 and had a long association with it. Richard, as Duke of Gloucester, and Richard’s time. In the shop area there was a small display detailing had been embroiled in a battle over ownership of the castle with Laurence information about the castle’s previous owners, such as Warwick the Booth, the Bishop of Durham. Barnard should have been included in the Kingmaker and Richard himself. Included was a replica of the Middleham Beauchamp inheritance, but Edward IV had given it to Booth in exchange jewel, the original of which was found close to the castle grounds by a for his loyalty. The land and title had originally belonged to Booth’s metal detectorist, and can be seen at York Museum. predecessors, but had become crown property. In the end Richard won Dotted around the castle are information points about the various areas the case, but Booth was promoted to chancery in exchange and would of the building, with illustrations which help you to picture how the castle even help Richard with his land dispute case with the Countess of Oxford. would have looked in its heyday. At the centre of the castle is the The castle is divided into four different wards: the town ward, the inner magnificent keep, originally built in the 12th century. In here is the great and middle wards, and the now non-existent outer ward. hall. Although the floors are missing one can appreciate how grand the Of interest is the dovecote tower, located in the town ward, which still room must have looked. Still visible on the first floor is a chapel in the contains nest boxes, holes in the walls where pigeons would have been corner. Next door to the hall is the great chamber of the lord of the castle. stored and their eggs farmed for food. Nearby are the remains of the The ground floor is divided into two by a wall, and one area functioned as Brackenbury tower, named after Sir Robert Brackenbury, close ally to a kitchen containing two wells. Stumps of the pillars that would have Richard and the Constable of the Tower of London during the princes’ supported the great hall can still be seen running the length of the room. disappearance. An interesting feature was the wooden bridge (long since gone), which Of most interest to Ricardians are connected the upper floor of buildings of the south range to the castle the remains of the great hall and the keep, so the more important inhabitants and guests would not have to great chamber. Again, little exists of walk through the mud and filth at the bottom. They were literally above this once grand building except its the poorer people who lived below. The upper rooms would have been outer wall. A wooden staircase has finely furnished with fireplaces and lavish hangings. been added so visitors are able to walk Another place of note are the ruins of the prince’s tower, said to be the up to the large oriel window on the first birthplace of Prince Edward of Middleham, although this is open to floor of the great chamber, said to have debate. Not much exists of this part of the castle. been added during the fifteenth century

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at the behest of Richard of Gloucester. Above the window are the Richard III Museum in York weathered remains of Richard’s boar emblem. It was amazing to see, ork is an exceptional place to catch up on history plus boasting although it was not as clear as it once other charms in terms of good food and shopping. Stephen and must have been, but you are still able YI enjoyed a weekend there recently and wondered whether since to discern the shape of the animal. our last visit there had been any impact on the city and its tourism from The most complete part of the the Richard revelations of the past year. We started off with a general castle and most unusual is the round history walk which included several tourists from abroad. The guide was tower which is cylindrical in shape informative and humorous and emphasized the long standing loyalty of and found to the right of the great chamber. In the basement or under the local denizens to Richard, surprising visitors from other shores - croft of the tower, used as a storeroom, was a well, fireplace and latrine. obviously not members of our society. Also in here are the remains of a stone coffin, although there were no We then sought out the Richard III Museum which for those of you who details of where it came from or who it belonged to. haven’t visited is within the Monk Bar gatehouse which boasts probably The first floor would have been used as the lord’s chamber. the last working portcullis in Britain. So, all nicely mediaeval we thought Unfortunately the second and third floors are now missing, though stairs as we mounted the steps to the first tiny room. leading to the third floor windows still exist, offering views of the area Maybe this is a good way to get kids interested in history but it seemed around and of the castle itself. that the organizers were taking the soft option and the overall appearance Out of both castles, Middleham was definitely my favourite. Not only was of clutter. We had been advised on purchasing tickets, that there are for its history and connection to Richard, but for the beauty of the building no artifacts or anything valuable from the period because of limited itself. While Barnard has much less to see and do, it is worth the funding and poor security (despite being a gatehouse). We understood admission just to see the boar emblem, a tantalising link to Richard who that but were unprepared for the array of cheap laminated prints of may have sat and marvelled at it all those years ago as I did. pictures generously littered about the first floor exhibition. The main As part of my holiday I also visited Whitby and the ruins of Whitby theme was a mock trial of Richard with voice over and written sheets of Abbey which again are definitely worth a visit. They are spectacular ruins, evidence for prosecution and defence for visitors to read. Although the but due to its location on a cliff by the sea, it can get quite windy, so be arguments seemed evenly balanced everyone had voted guilty; old habits warned! Next door to the abbey is the Church of Saint Mary’s, of Dracula die hard. It was reminiscent of the Worcester Commandery trial of fame, for anyone who has read the book. Charles I but less well presented. The main defence of Richard appeared Unfortunately I did not get the opportunity to visit Richmond and Raby to be that he was English unlike Henry VII (Welsh), Richard Coeur de Lion Castles but it gives me a reason to go back. I had a great time, and will (French) etc. The line of monarchs guilty of the crime of being foreign definitely go north again soon, perhaps to visit Richard’s tomb if he is re- continued up to Queen Victoria. So far, so disappointing. interred there. The second floor was better. There was a DVD prepared by students Ashley Mantle of the University of York presented by a young man who could be a future Michael Wood – articulate and enthusiastic. The commentary concentrated on evidence rather than conjecture. Areas of debate were

17 18 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 presented as just that and we suspected that a Masters or PhD might be be very hazardous in winter or wet weather as it was necessary to cross in view. This room was better laid out and also contains the portcullis the River Blythe. In 1396 Walter Cook obtained permission from the Pope mechanism which will certainly interest children. The DVD is on a loop to build a chapel on land belonging to his father and the church was and is a real contrast to the cluttered room on the first floor. consecrated in 1403. There is a guardian who sells tickets and books who had popped out As with nearly all churches, additions and changes have been made to the loo when we first arrived, so no café or toilets, but no one to answer through the years, but the fine timber roof dates back to medieval times. questions. There are various books on sale, mainly novels about royal The original painted decoration can still be seen in some places. mistresses closely verging on the sensational. They do however stock Walter Cook founded the Guild of St Anne in 1413, which became very Annette Carson’s ‘A Small Guide to the Great Debate’. popular, and in 1416 Cook founded a religious college to ensure that the I shan’t say more because I don’t want to damn anything that opens up increased number of chaplains followed a common rule. To meet the interest in Richard. It was pleasurable to see an amateur but competent additional needs of the guild and college, the church was extended by account of the facts and fictions regarding Richard and ending with the adding a south aisle, raising the roof to allow an extra row of windows and York pronouncement on him being ‘murdered and cruelly slain’. However, later adding a chancel. this is far from being a well curated and attractive museum despite its age At the east end of the nave is a 15th century carved wooden rood and curiosity as a building. For anyone interested in learning about screen, although it is no longer in its original position. It was removed Richard it does little other than to raise a few questions. Whether it during a restoration in 1860 and was left outside in the churchyard for encourages people to seek answers remains to be seen. three months, while it was debated whether it should be kept or not. Fortunately, it was kept, but was re-erected one arch further away from Lindsay Gibson the chancel. There is a lot more that could be said about the church – the stained glass, the Elizabethan communion table, the anomalies that have occurred through restoration etc, but the one area I would particularly like to mention is the Soldiers’ Chapel. This was originally a chantry chapel, Branch Meetings later becoming a private family pew, but in 1921 was made into a memorial chapel to the men and women of Knowle who died in the First Visit To Knowle Parish Church And Temple Balsall - September 14 World War. Additional memorials have been made for the fallen in the Second World War and subsequent conflicts. he morning of September 14th was damp and grey and that may After lunch, we reconvened at Temple Balsall and as the sun came have accounted for the fact that only a handful of people were at out, we were given a talk and guided tour by the vicar, the Reverend TKnowle Parish Church for our guided tour. One of the number, Kathy Lloyd Roberts, resplendent with her magenta coloured hair. however, was a member of the Bristol Branch, who travelled up from Bath There have been people living in the Balsall area for thousands of that morning. We were enthusiastically met at the church door by years, but it was through the gift of the land by Roger de Mowbray to the members of Knowle Local History Group to give us a tour. Knights Templar that the area became known as Temple Balsall. The Knowle Church was originally built as a ‘chapel of ease’ as the parish Templars built the oldest surviving building known now as Old Hall, which church was at Hampton-in–Arden. The journey of about three miles could is where they lived and worshipped.

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After the suppression of the Knights Templar at the beginning of the Sir Thomas More - October 12 14th century, the land was held by the king for a while and was then passed to the Knights of St. John (the Hospitallers) and it is most likely ir Thomas might not have seemed an obvious guest for members they who built the Church of St Mary the Virgin as their private chapel. of the Richard III Society. However, in the person of past The Hospitallers stayed at Temple Balsall until the middle of the 15th SChairman Ralph Richardson, “Sir Thomas” managed to elicit century, but by the 1460s it was leased to private individuals. some sympathy from the assembled company at the October meeting at In 1540 the Order of St John was dissolved by Act of Parliament and Beoley. He was, he said, somewhat bemused to discover that there was in January 1541 Henry VIII’s commissioners came to Temple Balsall to a Richard III Society. When a small boy he had seen the king just once assess the value of the property, and ordered that the lead of the church and had later heard about Tyrell’s confession, which he had found most roof be removed. The church remained derelict for over a hundred years. interesting. Henry VIII gave the manor to his last wife Catherine Parr and it Sir Thomas, the only son of Sir John More, was born in London in eventually was given to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It was 1478. He was sent, at the age of about twelve, to live in the household subsequently inherited by his two grand-daughters Lady Anne Holbourne of Archbishop Morton, who had previously plotted with the Duke of and Lady Katherine Leveson. Buckingham and fled to France to join Henry Tudor, returning with him to Lady Anne Holbourne began the restoration of the church and on her become his Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury. More later death in 1663 left various bequests to endow a preaching ministry and attended Canterbury College, Oxford, where he met the greatest scholars money for repairs to the church. Lady Katherine Leveson established a of his day, Colet, Linacre and Grocyn. He returned to London to train as trust and had almshouses erected for twenty poor widows or spinsters. a lawyer at New Inn and Lincoln’s Inn, though he lived at the Lady Katherine died in 1674 and in her will left money for a school for Charterhouse, the London monastery of the Carthusian monks. He twenty of the poorest boys in Balsall. became an M.P. in 1504 and spoke out against Henry VII’s taxation, The original almshouses were subsequently rebuilt when they fell into which led to his father’s imprisonment. disrepair, but the basis of the court remains to this day. His marriage to Jane Colt produced three daughters and a son. The We were able to go into the court and visit one of the flats, and also to family lived at “The Barge”, Bucklersbury, where Erasmus, More’s friend, go into the original school room. The accommodation is no longer wrote “In Praise of Folly”. By 1510 More was Under Sheriff for London restricted to ladies, and there are different levels of care available, as well and earning £400 a year. The following year his wife died and he soon as a residential home. married again. His bride was a widow, Dame Alice Middleton. By now the sun was shining and we were able to take advantage of the More’s “Richard III” was written in 1513-14 and at our meeting “Sir tea and cakes that were being served on the lawn of Temple House, as Thomas” told us Morton had told him that Richard III was “very wicked” well as browsing the various stalls and games that were there. and would therefore be punished by God. More wrote his “History” as the Greeks and Romans did, to show characters of great virtue or great sin, Brenda Cox and he invented appropriate speeches for the people in his story. The book was written in Latin and translated into English, probably the first biography in English. The trial of Tyrell was hushed up by Henry VII, but More read the transcript of it which provided him with the scene of the smothering of the Princes. The book was never finished and not

21 22 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 published until 1543 – for which our speaker gave no explanation. The More had declared that the king could never be Supreme Head of the far superior book, “Utopia”, was written shortly afterwards in 1515 -16. Church. Inevitably More was condemned to a traitor’s death, but Henry In 1517 More joined Henry VIII’s Council and became Master of the commuted the sentence to beheading, which was carried out on 6th July Court of Requests. In 1521 he assisted Henry in writing his book “In 1535. More proclaimed as he faced the headsman, “I die the king’s good Defence of the Seven Sacraments” for which the Pope gave the king the servant, but God’s first”. title “Defender of the Faith”. More was knighted that year and travelled “Sir Thomas” claimed that Heaven was very pleasant and that he had abroad on the king’s business. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1523 met Josephine Tey there, but of Morton and Henry VIII there was no sign! and became Speaker, asking for freedom of speech and forcing Wolsey Members ended the afternoon feeling rather more sympathetic towards to reduce the level of taxation he demanded, thus preventing the king the real Sir Thomas than before, persuaded by the eloquence of his from engaging actively in the war against France. The More family with “reincarnated” self and Ralph was given a richly deserved round of its large household, including a jester, moved to Chelsea which was applause. where Holbein painted his famous picture of the whole family. It was in 1527 that More realized things were beginning to go wrong. Carol Southworth Lutheran influence was growing in the country which distressed him as a loyal supporter of the Pope; the Turks were at the gates of Vienna; the I’d just like to add a bit about William Grocyn, one of More’s tutors at army of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V sacked the city of Rome and Oxford. On Friday 25th July 1483 Richard III was at Magdalen College took the Pope prisoner; worst of all, Henry VIII still had no legitimate male Oxford and heard a disputation in divinity by Grocyn and John Taylor. heir and so wanted his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. More Grocyn was a friend and patron of Erasmus. told him firmly that he could not ask the Pope to cancel the dispensation his predecessor had granted to allow Henry to marry his brother’s widow. Pam Benstead Despite this, Henry made More Chancellor when Wolsey was sacked from the post, having failed to secure the required annulment. “Sir Tedstone Wafre And The Mortimer Connection - November 9 Thomas” told us he could not continue to serve the king in the circumstances. He added that, seeing the end of his career, he had he meeting on Saturday 9th November featured a talk by Dr reflected that he had enjoyed being a judge and maintained that he had Martin Toms, entitled “Tedstone Wafre and the Mortimer always been fair and had refused to take bribes. TConnection.” The meeting was held at Malvern Vale Community The crisis came with the passing of the Act of Succession in 1534, Centre, and was attended by members of the Worcestershire Branch of which said that the heirs of the Boleyn marriage should inherit the throne. the Richard III society, and members of the Mortimer Society. All men of standing had to take an oath to support this statute, but More Dr Martin Toms is a resident of Tedstone Wafre, a little known village would not take it since he maintained that Henry had assumed powers which was of some importance in the past, and which had connections that rightfully belonged to the Pope; only the Pope could annul the king’s with the Mortimer family. Martin’s exploration and eventual rediscovery marriage and change the succession. More was imprisoned in the Tower of Tedstone’s lost Mortimer manor and deer park began with the purchase on 15th April 1534; the Treasons Act of the same year, which made it of a sixteenth century house in the village, known as Green Farm. Martin treason to deny any of the king’s titles, sealed his fate. He was tried in had wanted to discover the house’s exact age, its history and the reason Westminster Hall, but refused to speak. Richard Rich, on oath, said that why it was called “Green Farm.” He began by looking at old maps, in

23 24 Dickon Independent Issue 90 Dickon Independent Issue 90 particular tithe maps, and made an interesting discovery: what appeared Martin discovered that the manor at Tedstone had been owned by the to be the outline of a large deer park in the area. Aerial photographs of Mortimers during the 13th to 15th centuries. The Mortimers had arrived in the area backed up his theory; the shape of the deer park was clearly the country during the Norman invasion and were powerful marcher lords visible. It was of such a vast size that it led him to the conclusion that a in charge of the Welsh Marches. large manor house or castle must have been located nearby. If the area Originally the manor had been owned by the Wafre family but had was used for hunting it may also have had a hunting lodge. fallen into Mortimer hands when Roger Mortimer de Chirk married Lucy When walking on the boundaries of the deer park, he said there is le Wafre in 1286. evidence of a ditch which would have been used to keep the deer in, and Roger de Chirk served Edward ‘Long Shanks’ I, and fought in the there is clear evidence of its shape. Battle of Falkirk in 1298 where William Wallace was defeated. He is also Unfortunately his research did not tell him anything about his own said to have been responsible for the death of Llewellyn ap Gruffyd in house but the discovery of the deer park propelled him to delve further 1282, the last Welsh Prince of Wales, and carried the prince’s severed into Tedstone’s history. Who had owned the deer park, and where was head from Builth Wells to Edward I at Rhuddlan Castle. The grateful king the manor it was associated with? allowed Roger to build Chirk Castle in Wales. Tedstone Wafre is a small village located in Herefordshire. The village In 1321 Roger and his nephew, also named Roger Mortimer, the 1st is almost unknown today, with only one sign denoting its location, and Earl of March, were involved in the Despenser wars. This was a rebellion some confusion on many modern maps which suggest the village is in a against Edward II and Hugh Despenser the younger, who enjoyed royal completely different place. The village is of Roman origin and features in favour, and was lord of vast lands along the Welsh Marches. After the the Domesday Book. In the past it consisted of three different farms: Mortimers were victorious in battle, the Despensers were exiled. Edward Court, Cutnell and Green Farm, where Martin’s house is located, and II, not happy that his favourite had been banished, eventually had the which are all now residential areas. There are ruins of an old medieval upper hand, and Chirk and March were forced to surrender and sent to church, St Mary’s, which date from the 11th century. The church fell into the Tower of London. His land, including the Wafre property, was ruin after a new church, itself now defunct, was built nearby in Victorian confiscated and Lucy le Wafre was imprisoned and died in 1324. It is times. possible that she is buried in a nearby church. Martin showed us a picture of the remains of the medieval church, Chirk himself died in the Tower, although it is not known if he was sadly now just stones. Some of its material was reused and may possibly murdered at the king’s orders after March managed to escape. Chirk’s form part of Martin’s house. To illustrate this he showed us a photograph funeral was held at Wigmore Abbey, after much deliberation from King of what appeared to be a piece of vaulting from a church under a bench Edward, who finally gave it his blessing. It is possible that Edward had outside his house. Part of the wall the bench was resting up against may made an error in allowing Roger to be buried in Wigmore, as such an also have been erected from recycled material. occasion may have been used to organise the rebellion against him, for The aerial photographs of the area revealed other interesting historical ten days later March invaded England with Edward’s Queen, Isabella. points about the area. This includes the remains of a Roman fort, thought Edward was deposed and held in Berkeley Castle, where he died in by some to be a homestead, but Martin stated it would have definitely suspicious circumstances. After a three year reign Roger was overthrown been a fort due to its location on a hill, not in a sheltered valley that would by the future Edward III, and was hanged at Tyburn. have been used for farming, and also Roman roads. Martin discovered a map from the 1700s which shows the location of a large house, although it was not labelled, which could possibly be the

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Wafre’s lost manor. If this is correct the lost manor may be located underneath the present Victorian church, which is now a private residence. It is hoped that one day archaeological work may be carried out on it to discover if it is truly the site of Tedstone Wafre’s lost manor.

Thank you to Pat Parminter and Carol Southworth for kindly providing me with notes to aid my write up. The Ashley Mantle Worcestershire Branch

Chairman Pat Parminter Treasurers Brenda and David Cox 53 Roden Avenue 42 Whitemoor Drive Kidderminster Solihull Latest News Worcestershire West Midlands DY10 2RE B90 4UL

[email protected] [email protected] 7 October - Remains of chapel found at Towton - Richard began construction of a chapel in 1483 to commemorate the dead of this crucial Reports Carol Southworth Programme Mickie O’Neill Secretary 1 Beaminster Road Planner “Hillcroft” battle. It was never finished as he was killed two years later. and Solihull and Livesey Road Press West Midlands Librarian Ludlow 14 October - Leicester’s 40,000 petition to keep the king in the city Officer B91 1NA Shropshire SY8 1EZ handed in to 10 Downing Street by Leicestershire MPs. [email protected] [email protected]

11 November - £2.5 million Leicester Cathedral Gardens project Officer Pat Hibbs Membership Pam Benstead started. Richard’s statue will be moved here, to bring it close to the 95 St Andrew’s Road Secretary 15 St Mary’s Close Richard III Visitor Centre. Malvern and Editor Kempsey Worcestershire (Non- Worcester WR14 3PU Committee) WR5 3JX 26 November - Judicial Review - adjourned to the new year due to an application by Leicester City Council to be involved. Why they weren’t in [email protected] [email protected] it from the beginning is beyond me! Very frustrating for all concerned. Visit the Worcestershire Branch’s web site at www.richardiiiworcs.co.uk

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in ‘Dickon Independent’ are not necessarily those of the Editor. 27 No article or illustration may be reproduced by any means without permission.