A-Z Challenge 2012 - V
Belvoir Castle
I feel quite justified in using Belvoir
Castle for V; it is situated in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire; it has a ‘V’ in its name and its name translates as ‘beautiful view.’
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| Belvoir Castle 2011 (aerial view) |
The castle, in its commanding position, has
breathtaking views across the Vale of Belvoir and is the fourth castle which has stood on the site since Norman times. The existing castle was completed in
the early 19th century after complete or partial destruction of
previous buildings.
The first castle built c1070 with a large
central square stone keep and surrounding wall lasted for nearly 400 years
before being demolished in 1464 during the Wars of the Roses when its owner,
Lord Ros, was executed for supporting the Lancastrian cause.
A second castle was built during the reign of
Henry VIII (1509 -1547) by the Manners family who had inherited the castle when
the Ros family died out in 1508. This castle, a heavily fortified medieval
building, stood for c120 years until it was again destroyed during the Civil War.
After the war the Earl of Rutland, a Manners’ descendant, rebuilt a classical
style mansion on the castle site – an enormous house with four wings round a
large courtyard.
In 1703 the 9th Earl of Rutland was
created Duke of Rutland but when the 5th Duke married Elizabeth
Howard in 1799 she wanted a more traditional castle. The previous castle was
rebuilt as the fine Gothic
Castle that stands there
today.
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| Belvoir Castle (Jones Views) |
Belvoir Castle has been the home of the Manners family
for 500 years and the seat of the Dukes of Rutland for over three centuries to
the present day.
Although the name Belvoir originated with the
French-speaking Norman conquerors, the native Anglo Saxons unable to get their
tongues round the foreign word called it “Beaver Castle” – and its been
pronounced “Beaver” ever since.
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| Belvoir Castle |
If you are waiting for a ghostly connection you
may be disappointed. However, the witches of Belvoir are inextricably linked
with the Francis the 6th Earl of Rutland and his second wife
Countess Cecilia.
A local woman named Joan Flower and her
daughters Margaret and Philippa were considered to be witches in league with
the Devil. The three had been servants to the Countess until they were
dismissed when Margaret was caught pilfering.
Soon afterwards the Earl and Countess suffered
convulsions; they recovered but their two sons subsequently died of sudden
illnesses and strange sickness. Their daughter, Lady Catherine became the next
to feel the witches’ revenge although she survived. At Christmas 1618 the three
women were arrested and taken to Lincoln
jail. Joan Flower protested her innocence demanded bread and butter saying it
would never go through her if she were guilty. When she put it in her mouth she
promptly choked to death.
Margaret Flower admitted she had stolen the
glove of the young heir and given it to her mother who stroked her familiar cat
with it; dipped the glove in hot water and pricked it whereupon the young boy
had fallen ill. They had also taken feathers from the bed of the Rutlands, and
a pair of gloves, which they had boiled in water, mingled with a little blood.
This practice was to prevent the Earl and Countess having any more children.
Associated with the Flowers in their practices
were three other women Anne Baker, Joan Willimot and Ellen Greene all from
local Leicestershire villages.
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| Three witches |
These three women were condemned to death along
with the Flower sisters. Margaret and Philippa Flower were executed at Lincoln on 11th
March 1618(1619?) for the alleged crime of witchcraft,
Note
One source says the Flowers were hanged;
another that they were burnt to death.
Attributions
- Belvoir Castle 2011, from an RAF Dominie; Author Jerry Gunner. Lincoln; Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
- Belvoir Castle from Jones Views of the seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen, published in 1819. The south west range and round tower.
- Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire; author Nancy; Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license
- Three women examined in the case of the Witches of Belvoir; source http://www.bookofdays.com/months/march/11.htm
