4
Sep

Memory of Richard III held high in Sheriff Hutton

   Posted by: Dorothea Preis   in News

Sheriff Hutton Castle was one of Richard’s main bases in the north and as Lord of the North, he often stayed at the castle.  In 1484 he established there a royal household for his nephew Edward, Earl of Warwick, the son of George of Clarence, in the care of John, Earl of Lincoln, another of Richard’s nephews, the son of his sister Elizabeth. They were later joined by Edward IV’s daughters as well as Richard’s own illegitimate son, John of Gloucester.[1]

On 20/21st October 2012, the town is planning a weekend of talks, music and drama to reveal more of the story of Richard III, his wife Anne Neville and their son Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales.

On the Saturday evening there will be a concert performance of words and music by the York Waits, playing medieval music on period instruments, and  Deborah Catterall, renowned singer of period music.

The Sunday will start with a morning service of thanksgiving for Richard III and his family.  Presumably this will take place in the local church, St Helen and the Holy Cross.  In the church, there is a small alabaster chest tomb with the monument of a child, dated to the 15th century.  It has often been thought that this is the coffin of Richard’s only legitimate child, Edward of Middleham [2] (and indeed the local website claims that it is).   However, a careful analysis of the style of the monument makes this unlikely.[3]

The service is followed by a demonstration by the Towton Battlefield Society and the Frei Companie.  In the afternoon, there will be presentations. Our friend, Helen Cox of the Richard III Society, will speak on Ricardian connections – she is the author of The Battle of Wakefield Revisited and Walk Wakefield 1460. Professor Anthony Pollard will speak on the Nevilles in Yorkshire.

And for all your shopping needs there will be Ricardian stalls all over the weekend.

For more info and how to book tickets, visit The Press.

Bibliography:

1.    ‘Sheriff Hutton Castle – Acquired 29 June 1471’, The Richard III Foundation.  URL:  http://www.richard111.com/sheriff_hutton_castle__.htm Date accessed: 26 May 2010

2.    Jane Crean, ‘The Sheriff Hutton Monument:  Part 1’, Ricardian Bulletin (September 2009), pp. 37-39

3.    Jane Crean, ‘The Sheriff Hutton Monument: Part 2’, Ricardian Bulletin (December 2009), pp. 39-41

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