Links - Battle of Worksop 551st Anniversary

16th December marks the 551st anniversary of the date thought to be the Battle of Worksop.  I did quite a lot of research into this for the big anniversary last year so though I'd give a quick set of links rather than repeat last years work:

Details of Battle: http://priorieshistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2010/11/it-is-year-of-our-lord-1460-our-country.html

Worksop Priory Skull: http://priorieshistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2010/11/battle-of-worksop-skull-now-at.html

Talbot Family: http://priorieshistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2010/12/battle-of-worksop-skull-thoughts.html

News - Sponsored by Archaeologists show hi-tech vision of city’s historic past (Sheffield Castle)

WITH its looming front wall and mist clouded moat, it has the aura of a fortress from Lord Of The Rings.

But this is how Sheffield Castle would have looked according to a new study by city archaeologists.

Experts from construction firm Arcus and students from the Sheffield University produced the stunning image as part of an investigation into the make-up and significance of the 13th century building.

They drew on previous excavations and studies of contemporary castles during their research.

Now castle campaigner Ron Clayton is to present the picture to Lord Mayor Sylvia Dunkley in a bid to keep the historic building in the public mind.

“Without the castle there would be no Sheffield, it’s that simple,” says historian Ron of Hillsborough. “The early markets survived because of this stronghold and that’s why it’s important images like this are shown to people.”

Now he will continue putting pressure on the authorities to excavate the remains currently buried beneath, appropriately enough, Castle Market.

“I’ve said it for a long time and I’ll continue saying it,” he says. “We have this treasure under our feet and we should be making the most of it and using it to regenerate the city.”

The castle was built in 1270 but, after being used as a Royal stronghold during the English Civil War, was knocked down by victorious Parliamentarians in the late 1640s.

No plans or drawings from the period remain.

A presentation will be made in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in the Town Hall on July 27.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/archaeologists_show_hi_tech_vision_of_city_s_historic_past_1_3591468

Battle of Worksop Skull (thoughts)

Today I have been thinking about the skull which was in the Priory (but now removed to Wakefield) which may be John or Christopher Talbot:

i) The bodkin head is in the skull - Why would a knight have removed his helmet during a battle?  This would be extremely stupid

ii) If we believe the historians of the time and John Talbot died protecting the Kings tent where did the arrow come from? The Yorkist's wanted Henry alive so why would they go around shooting arrows off in his general direction?

Then I read a bit more on the battle.  Apparently the king was captured by an archer called Henry Mountford, The Yorkists were ordered not to kill ordinary men but to concentrate on the nobility of the Lancastrian side.  Maybe the Talbot's thought they were safe inside the camp not expecting Lord Grey of Ruthins treachery!

Another curiosity is why was the king in the 'park' rather than the castle? the cannon would have been better positioned in the buildings and wouldn't have become inactive via the heavy rainfall that day.

Christopher was buried at Treeton so that pretty much rules out the skull as being his.  John was buried in Radford priory (before the twinned township with Worksop was swallowed up).  Thoroton describes the inscription on his tomb as thus:

Sepulchrum magnanicni as prepotentis Domini Domini Johannis Talbot, Comitis Salopse Decundi, ex rogio sanguine ducentis originem. Qui Henrico Regi fidiffimus, Bello apud Northamptoniam gefto, ante figna ftrenue’ pugnans, bonefta morse cecidit die dedimo Juhi, Anno Dom.noftri Jesu Christi 1460

Et Matrice fie

Salope Comitis lapis hic regit offa Johannis

Cui nihil antiquanu quam fuit alma, idea,

Hic at ferviret Regi totmenta fubivit

Intrepidus ferri {anguineamq}secem.

Ergo licet parvum condat tua vifcei a faxum

Virtus Angligebium luftrat in oume follum

Our society's secretary Pam Cook has managed to translate the inscription for me:

Burying place of the great magnificent and powerful John Talbot,II Earl of Shrewsbury, of the splendid, excellent line descended,

Who owed King Henry Loyalty, Died in the War at Northampton.He eagerly/resolutely fought in battle, honourably died here 10th July

Year of our Lord Jesus Christ 1460

And his mother in this manner, With this stone here covered a morsel* of John, Count of Shrewsbury When nothing*1 in former times kind, faithful Who served his King, suffering*2 to overthrow Intrepidly fought not bloodily, Therefore lies this small decorated stone Virtuous English illuminated*3 the whole explained

* Was his whole body buried here or just his heart?

*1 Meaning: very kind, very faithful

*2 suffering (an attempt) to overthrow

*3 throw light on

But where is that tomb now? It's been removed from the Priory and Pevsner fails to mention the tomb in his book "The Buildings of Nottinghamshire so it's safe to assume this was taken prior to 1951 when the book was first published. So sometime between 1677 and 1951 (264 years!).

Its also ironic that after John Talbot was pensioned off from the position of high treasurer on 30 October 1458 he was given the role of Chief-Justiceship of Chester (24/02/1459) and the FORTIFIED WAKEFIELD LANDS of the Duke of York (19/12/1459) which is where all the fun happen a few brief months after his death.

Update: 10/12/10:

The earl was buried at Worksop, as Pigot informs us, " in our Lady Quere," in July, 1460, where a Latin inscription both in prose and verse appeared on his monument. (Hunter, Hallamshire, from Dugdale's Baronage.) So it looks like we now also have a location for the tomb