Big Barn Farm - Lead Farm Project

 

One of the things I have been planning and to a lesser extent working on is to build Lead Manor and St Mary’s Church, which were on the edge of the battlefield.  The church remains but the manor has been lost. Plenty of reading, including Historic England’s Medieval manorial complex, garden and water management features, St Mary's chapel, and a linear earthwork forming part of the Aberford Dyke system and the excellent English Heritage report  Historic Farmsteads - Preliminary Character Statement:Yorkshire and the Humber Region, on vernacular buildings of Yorkshire which I’m using to help me get the materials right.  Medieval farm buildings in the Vale of York, where Lead and Towton are located were generally wattle and daub, rather than local stone as I had expected. 

 

According to the archeologically survey, there was a sizeable farmstead, fishponds and outbuildings, as well as the church. Historic England’s report states,  

“As a manorial centre, Lead would have been an important focus of medieval rural life. Its buildings, which probably included the chapel, will have reflected its status as an aristocratic or seigneurial residence. However, whilst being of such status, the complex is typical of those manors which were not confined within impressive moats or major enclosing earthworks which tend to be well-preserved. The original buildings of the complex typically exhibit a fairly unplanned layout which appears to extend over a large area …

… includes the earthworks of a medieval manorial complex, garden and water management features, together with St Mary's chapel, and a linear earthwork which is considered to be part of the Aberford Dyke system. The manorial earthworks lie within a triangular area of land east of the farm, at the centre of which is St Mary's Chapel, dating from the 12th-13th centuries, … Excavation has shown that the chapel was once larger and that it has been much altered over the years. The earthworks of the manorial complex have several distinct components. On the west side of the field containing the chapel is a large enclosure approximately 50m long which probably contained the manor house; to its south are at least three smaller enclosures on the same alignment, which would have contained ancillary manorial buildings. …  A hollow way approximately 7m wide runs between the smaller enclosures and connects with a larger hollow way over 10m wide, aligned north- south, along the east side of the enclosures. The latter hollow way appears to join a 9m wide trackway aligned east-west, which may be a carriageway to Lead Hall Farm, possibly also formerly a routeway associated with the medieval earthworks. East of the manorial enclosures and the hollow way aligned north- south, are the earthworks of medieval ridge and furrow, aligned east-west. These are discontinuous and lie in two main areas, one north of the carriageway and another south of the chapel. Between the two areas of ridge and furrow lie the chapel and a large, almost square enclosure with part of another enclosure appended to its south end; both enclosures and the ridge and furrow appear to follow the main hollow way aligned north-south. A further hollow way runs north to south on the east side of the chapel at which point it turns south east towards a probable water course which may be associated with the water management features in the adjacent field to the west. The chapel itself is surrounded by a small enclosure. The hollow way on the east side of the chapel appears to form the eastern boundary to this distinctive group of earthworks. To the east of this group there are the remains of a dovecote mound and the earthworks of ponds and water courses. On the west side of Lead Hall Farm are the earthworks of garden features including a probable prospect mound. To the south west of the manorial complex are the earthworks of water management features comprising a number of irregularly-shaped and interlinked enclosures of different sizes interpreted as fishponds. The ponds lie on either side of a broad water channel running east to west, water probably being diverted into them at the north western end of the field from the Cock Beck. A system of leats and sluices, the latter represented by in situ stonework, is well preserved. The morphology of the ponds and the system of leats running into the east-west channel suggest different phases of use. The entire complex of earthworks is extensive and it is likely that a number of different phases of activity are represented on the site and these may be further clarified by documentary and interpretive earthwork survey. The history of this medieval manorial complex and chapel is not yet fully understood. The complex lies less than two kilometres from the heart of the Towton battlefield. The battle of Towton on 29th March 1461, reputably the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought in England, was one of the major engagements of the Wars of the Roses …  The scale of this battle must have had a major impact on settlement and agricultural activity in the immediate battlefield area and significant information on this impact will be preserved within the manorial remains at Lead.

As a start, I thought I would make one of the three southern barns/out houses. I bought a Sarissa barn to start off with.. I accidently ordered two, which gave me a chance to try out some variations – stone or wattle and daub, thatch, tile or stone roof.  The wattle and daub is Polyfilla and coffee stirrers. The stone walls are air-dry clay stamped with a stone template from a doll house company. The finish isn’t perfect, with lots of flash lines where the stamps join. Having seen Sarissa practice their stone stencil system at Salute, I would try this next time. 

 

 

As a contrast, now I’m a connoisseur of medieval barns, here is southern England one I saw at the Chiltern Open Aire Museum, Arborfield Barn, a thatched split oak wattle barn from c 1500. It was originally located near Reading

It would be tempting to use Rendera’s wattle fencing to have a go at this one.

 

Meanderings

 

I’ve been busier that the blog would suggest. A weekend at Salute, TORM and the neighbouring Artisan and Re-enactors market. First time at Salute. 

 

Highlights were Bad Squiddo’s massive and excellently stand and friendly in-house painter, seeing and buying a fraction of Empress’ range figures at last, some French Indochina paratroops, and Project Fear, a witty, Steve Bell-esque Brexit game. As well as the paras, it was a good day for keeping the business afloat – Perrys, Debris of War and Bad Squiddo figures and lots of reading material. A good haul. No photos as they are squirreled away for my and family “surprise” Christmas presents. And then the next day off to the two markets - a doublet on order and good to see Pretender to the Throne and Tudor Tailor. 

 

I’ve also been working lots of side and half-completed projects. For Towton some buildings for Lead farm are progressing slowly, a TNH light tank for Operation Countenance 1941, and some skeletons for my nephew. More on some of these in later posts, hopefully. 

 

But to break the dry spell, and to keep it on topic, I thought I should post a book recommendation, Blood and Roses by Helen Castor. I’ve read an abridged collection of the Paston Letters before, but Castor weaves the family story into the wider history of 15th Century. In doing so, she shows how the local, personal and national and even the petty and the strategic, clothes shopping, law and status are all intertwined. It brings the period to life because of the character, motives and even voices of the family, their friends and foes. It also emphasizes the arbitrary and personal nature of late medieval politics and life in England. It also referenced the Stonor Papers, a gentry family local to me. These are an excellent albeit smaller set of texts, which draw in other Bucks/Oxfordshire families too, helpful to another much stalled project I have in mind, a gazetteer of the two counties’ families in the WoRs. 

 

 

WIP - Chopping up landsknecht

I've been doing a lot of bits and pieces recently but nothing very WoRs specific and nothing finished but bored one evening I thought I would do something quick and easy - reposition some of the Pro Gloria/Warlord plastic landsknect. The original poses have alwys been a bit off kilter, so I thought I would cut and move the torsos in to a more natural stance.

In the end I did more than I planned, kitbashing them with some Perry's, Warlord ECW, even the odd Warhammer Empire Guards (I think) and a bit of greenstuff. I think they are now more animate, and aggressive, with pikes levelled.

Now I just need to prep and paint them and work out what campaign they are for. Sorry the photos are so bad. These are the best of a few attempts.

Crossing Cock Beck

A small scene of Lancastarians fleeing the battle across the infamous Cock Beck on the flank of the field. Seeing it for real last summer, struck me what a hard route out it was. And made me think of making this base. It shows some Percy and a Somerset retainer pursued by Sir Henry Vavasour and an anonoumous light cavalry man. See my posting on the battlefield for more on the landscape and Vavasour. I started this thinking I would enter Winston's WoRs vignette competition on LEF, but I never got past undercoating the figures before the cloase date. I'm a very slow worker, and the liquid water added a new dimension too. But happy with the dynamism and the new techniques I used.

Siege of St Andrews - 1546-1547

A friend asked me to paint a few WoRs figures for him. Instead I decided to go off piste, again, and came up a vignette of the Siege of St Andrew's castle, 1546-47, given his links to the city. It took most of 2020 to complete but finally done.

The Story of the Siege

The Rough Wooing isn't my historical patch but the siege include all the political elements - religion, court power struggles, dynastic marriage plans, and international relations, with French and English involvement. 

The siege began when a number of Protestant lairds took the castle and killed its owner, Cardinal Beaton, in response to his execution of a Protestant preacher, George Wishart. Beaton's body was hung from the castle ramparts.

The Earl of Arran's coat of arms

Earl of Arran, the Scottish Regent, started a siege of the castle in late 1546 but the initial campaign had little impact and a truce and negotiations followed English threats to come in aid of the besieged protestants. There then followed a period of talks, intermittent English naval forays; and the death of Henry VIII, and the regular back and forth of John Knox, latter founder of Scotland's Presbyterian Church, as the as garrison's chaplain. English naval assistance was unsuccessful but in April 1547, Henry II of France sent aid to the besiegers, under the command of Italian mercenary, Leone Strozzi. After ineffectual bombardments from French ships, the plague-ridden garrison, fell to an effective, well-organised artillery bombardment on 30 July. Many of the defenders were imprisoned in France, and some ended up on war gallies, including Knox. Any Scottish victory overshadowed the next year, with their major defeat at Pinkie.

Leone Strozzi

Strozzi's coat of arms

So to the figures. There are two stands, One a command with Strozzi and Arran plus standard bearers and a Gallowglass for extra character. The other, two Scottish hand gunners, a Landsknecht and French crossbow man. 

I’m not sure how well executed they are, and I find the paint finishes lacking contrast but I like the fact, unlike the WoRs, there was a chance to mix it up with a variety of styles and costumes. The figures use virtually all of the makes I have - Perry, Steelfist dollies, Warlord and even some Warhammer Imperial Guard arms and a Dixon sword. And a bit of green stuff.

I do recommend a visit to the Castle and St Andrews if you ever get a chance.

Visit to Towton Battlefield

We managed to visit North Yorkshire this summer, during the lulls between lock-downs. The first day trip was to Towton battlefield.

We walked the battlefield, saw Saxton Church, the Crooked Billet and St Mary's Chapel. And also  saw Hazlewood Castle, across the beck, home to Sir Henry Vavasour (1421/30-1499), who according to some sources fought on the Yorkist side with Warwick, even though based in a Lancastrian heartland and possibly a Percy retainer.

Sir Henry is buried in the castle's chapel,

    "By the door lyes a blue marble about 2 yards and i long, escocheoned at corners thus: viz. Vavasour     and Gascoigne impaled. On the inscription plate this epitaph, viz. + Orate pro animabus domini             Henrici Vavasour militis, qui obiit ....die mentis .... anno Domini m0 cccc0 x'cviij0. (?) et [Johanna         consortia snce, quce xvij die Septembris, anno Domini m0 cccc" lxij0 (?) decessit;omniumque             fidelium defunctorum, ut requiescant in pace."  Torre's Archdeaconry of York. c 1754, 218.

The Vavasour coat of arm. And possibly the Gascoigne one it was impaled with.

 

 

 

According to one story,  the family heard the battle, 2/3rds of a mile away whilst at  Mass. It was Palm Sunday after all. And another, that Edward IV took quick refreshment in the Castle after the battle before moving on to York.

Thoughts from the visit?  

I've always found visiting battlefields and other sites associated with trauma and death a mixed and tad ghoulish experience and this time no different. But it is a quiet, still place, with not glorification, and no commercialisation.

Visiting the site did solidify the geography, especially the ascents, descents and plateau, in my mind. The long, wet slog up from Ferrybridge to the Towton plateau in snow and cold weather must have been tiring, grim and anxious for the Yorkists. And the short, sharp drop from the salient to the beck and the routes north  for the Lancastarians in rout even worse. Even on a summer day, the plateau is noticeably higher and exposed. I imagine it was less open and uniform at the time, however. 

And St Mary's Chapel, at Lead, on the left flank, is a hidden gem. It is the only extant remnant of Lead Manor and village, which again, the story goes, Edward may have stayed in the night before the battle. 

I hope to create a figure of Vavasour, Lead Chapel and if possible the retreat towards the beck.

The Company of St George

Great to see the new website up and running from one of the best re-enactor groups around. Now they have finally published their women's clothing guide to compliment the throughly researched men's one and the Dragon magazine.

 A real source of evidence, ideas and inspiration.