Tours of the Roses

They first braved the icy winds in Wakefield, where they met up with Mr Korosi on his home turf. He introduced the guide, Neal, who described the journey of Lancastrian forces from Skipton and Pontefract to lay siege to Richard Duke of York in his stronghold of Sandal Castle, and led the group round the key features of the site. The original motte and bailey layout was still clear to see, as was the gate from which York sallied forth, only to meet his death a few hundred metres down the hill.

They then travelled to York, and after exploring the city centre, the boys explored York Minster. Here they befriended an extremely well-dressed visiting chaplain, and clearly made a great impression on the staff (an email was received later that evening in which the duty manager described them as ‘the best behaved teenage boy group that she has met’). A tour of the Undercroft Museum included the immaculately preserved York Gospels – now over a thousand years old!
The group then embraced some typical Yorkshire weather and were guided around the city walls and the Fishergate Postern Tower by Bill and Granville from the Friends of York Walls, before heading on to York YHA for dinner. Most of the party then returned to town, with local boy Mr Blackman guiding them through the Shambles and various other tracts of his old stomping grounds.

Sunday saw them venture still further north, taking in the impressive ruins of Middleham Castle, favoured home of the Earl of Warwick (aka the ‘Kingmaker’) and his ward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, later to be Richard III. Then on to Bamburgh Castle, near the Scottish border, whose nineteenth century repairs bely the fact that this stronghold was heavily and successfully bombarded by Edward IV’s artillery train amidst the turmoil of the early 1460s. In contrast, nearby Dunstanburgh Castle is a bleak but beautiful ruin by comparison, and was best seen on the long approach along the coastal path – a good job, as it turned out to be closed on arrival!

The long drive back to York whipped by, thanks in large part to an epic Star Wars marathon for those not suffering too much sleep deprivation from the first night. Once back at the hostel, bangers and mash was followed by a closely-fought quiz and then an early night (for some – and the Superbowl for others!).

Their final day was spent at the battlefield at Towton, site of the largest loss of life on British soil, when Edward IV cemented his claim to be king in blizzard conditions in 1461. Their excellent guide, Chris, led them to the key points of the battlefield, explaining where the lines had drawn up, and where thousands of Lancastrian troops were killed, crushed, or drowned in Bloody Meadow after the battle had collapsed into a chaotic rout. He then took the boys back to the Towton Battlefield Association headquarters to give them a chance to handle medieval weapons, before rounding off the trip with superb, filled Yorkshire puddings at the Crooked Billet inn.

Huge thanks to Miss Durden, Mr Blackman, and Dr McKay for their support on the trip, and of course to the boys who clearly revelled in getting away after nearly two years of COVID restrictions, and who were great company.