Summary

Medieval stone memorial cross.

Description

Medieval stone memorial cross.

MATERIALS: Magnesian limestone.

DESCRIPTION: remains of the shaft and the base of a late medieval memorial cross, fashioned in Magnesian limestone. The base of the cross is set on a low square chamfered stone plinth and it is approximately 1m square and 0.5m high. The upper part is brought to an octagon by broad chamfers and the remaining corners of the lower part raised as if for finials or short pinnacles. The stump of an octagonal shaft is set in the centre of the base, with chamfered stops at the bottom of the diagonal sides.

History

The memorial cross commemorates the death of Henry de Percy, 1st Lord of Northumberland, who fell at the Battle of Bramham Moor on 19 February 1408. The Battle of Bramham Moor was the last battle of the Percy Rebellion of 1402-1408, between Henry de Percy and the usurper King of England, Henry IV. Originally Percy had supported Henry's overthrow of Richard II, but he became increasingly discontented by the new King's handling of the affairs state and that of the Percy family. The situation came to a head following the defeat of an invading Scottish army by Percy at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402, when he fell out with Henry over the sequestration of ransoms paid for the Scottish nobles that he had captured; consequently, Percy changed his allegiances to support the claim to the throne of Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. Edmund, supported by Percy, suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. However, at his trial, Percy was not found guilty of treason and only of trespass and offences against the Statute of Liveries; offences that carried a fine and ransom at the King's pleasure. The Earl then took an oath of allegiance and secured a royal pardon and was expected to pay an annual revenue of 500 Marks to the King. Clearly Percy felt humiliated and early in 1405 he signed a tripartite indenture together with Edmund Mortimer and Owain Glyndwr to overthrow the King and divide England and Wales between them. Percy's Rebellion was intermittent with most of his time spent moving from place to place to avoid capture, before he led a mixed Scottish and rebel army to invade England in 1408. Percy's invasion was intercepted by a force led by the Sheriff of York near Tadcaster, leading to his defeat at the Battle of Bramham Moor. Having been considered a traitor, Percy's body was recovered, hung, drawn and quartered, and displayed around the country; eventually, the parts were re-united and buried in York Minster.

Sometime after the battle, a memorial cross was erected on the Oglethorpe Hills, where it is believed that Percy fell in a rear-guard action. The site was approximately 244m to the north of York Lane, and its former position is shown on Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 maps of 1849 and 1909. Unfortunately, it became an inconvenience to cultivation and by 1933 it had been removed to the field boundary, but in the process, the upright portion of the stone was broken off, leaving only the stump. Later Major WT Lipscomb of Bramham Park Estate attached it to a new concrete base and relocated it a short distance away on the southern verge of York Lane, near to Black Wood, in order that it would be publicly visible. Unfortunately, it suffered from vandalism and as a consequence, it was relocated by the Bramham Historic Asset Conservation Group to the churchyard of the listed Grade II* Church of All Saints, Bramham on 15 November 2019, with funding for the operation being obtained from the Bramham Community Fund.

Reasons for Listing

Percy Cross, a medieval stone memorial cross, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* the medieval stone memorial cross commemorates the death of Henry de Percy, 1st Lord of Northumberland, who fell at the Battle of Bramham Moor on 19 February 1408; bringing to a close, the Percy Rebellion of 1402-1408, which occurred between Henry de Percy and the usurper King of England, Henry IV.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed medieval memorial cross, employing good quality materials and craftsmanship.

Group value:

* the memorial cross has a spatial group value with the listed Grade II* Church of All Saints, Bramham.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26429015

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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