The final resting place of thousands of Royalist soldiers killed in the English Civil War may have been revealed using new drone technology.
Amateur archaeologist Tony Hunt found the mass graves at White Sike Close, near the A59 between Harrogate and York, using drones equipped with infrared and thermal imaging cameras.
He said:
“The great thing about this site is that we know exactly where the bodies are supposed to be – the pits are very well attested by historical accounts – and we know that there has been no development here, only agriculture, since the battle. When we do a wider survey, the surrounding area looks very homogeneous – these are the only anomalies.
“So we have the right size, the right location, written records and even different growth patterns in vegetation growing here. I’m as sure as I can be that these are the burial pits for the Royalist dead.”
The soldiers were killed making a last stand at the Battle of Marston Moor, which was fought on July 2, 1644. The battle was the largest of the English Civil War, and the Parliamentarians’ victory effectively ended Royalist influence in the North of England. King Charles I was beheaded less than five years later.
Satellite map with battle lines overlaid showing the disposition of forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.
Estimates of casualties vary, but it is believed that at least 300 Parliamentarians and 4,000 Royalists were killed at the battle.
The battlefield site, which is registered on the National Heritage List for England, lies within the boundaries of the Harrogate district.
Chris Rock, Yorkshire regional chair of the Battlefields Trust, said:
“The Battlefields Trust is always interested in any possible evidence of the conflict sites in the country. Despite being a registered battle site with Historic England, this does not automatically give it protected status, and is thus open to illegal activity.
“Only by working closely with those who used the land or are landowners can we hope to protect and preserve any possible battle proof. We look forward to any future excavation work if allowed and will always work in partnership with those who have the same aims of preserving our history.”
But Mr Hunt says he doesn’t want to investigate further. He said:
“Just knowing they’re there is enough for me. I can’t see any benefit in opening up the poor lads’ graves.”
Detail of a 19th-century map, showing the location of White Sike Close, where Royalist soldiers are believed to have made a last stand – and been buried.
The English Civil Wars were fought between 1642 and 1652 and pitted King Charles I and his Royalists against the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, who generally believed in the primacy of Parliament over the monarch. It resulted in the execution of the king and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.
Mr Hunt has a degree in archaeological sciences from Bradford University and is currently managing director of DJ Assembly, a York-based micro-electronics company. He also runs Yorkshire Aerial Archaeological Mapping, whose thermal and infrared imaging technology revealed the burial pits.
He has previously used his drone technology to locate many other sites of historic interest. Last summer, he found a missing section of Roman road, and early this year he discovered a suspected prehistoric henge under the village of Kirk Hammerton.
Read more:
- New Harrogate district henge could be ‘nationally significant’
- Missing section of main Roman road found at Green Hammerton
- Calls for archeological survey into Knaresborough’s Roman past
Renovation plans approved for Knaresborough’s Cromwell building
The council has approved plans to renovate the site where Oliver Cromwell reportedly stayed during the siege of Knaresborough in 1644.
Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee met virtually today to consider the plans and councillors approved them unanimously.
80 Knaresborough High Street, which dates back to 1764, has been derelict for decades and councillors commented today that it has been “an eyesore”.
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The council itself is behind the application to turn the building, as well as a former weaver’s workshop at 82 High Street, into flats and new shops.
It purchased the two Grade II listed properties in 2019 from developer Freshwater Group with the intention of bringing them back into use.
Plans to repair church wall in Kirby Malzeard
The planning committee also unanimously approved a £19,000 reconstruction and repair of a church wall at St Andrew’s in Kirby Malzeard.
A 10-metre section of wall collapsed onto Church Street on February 19, causing the closure of the road between Kirkby Malzeard and Masham.
There has been a diversion in place for more than eight months.
The collapsed section of wall in Kirkby Malzeard.
Planning permission was required for reconstruction of the collapsed section and repair of a further 30-metre length of the wall.
Before work can proceed, further discussions need to be completed with Historic England, which has raised concerns about the proposed method of reconstructing the wall.
Knaresborough’s Oliver Cromwell building set for faceliftA historic building in Knaresborough, which is believed to be on the site where Oliver Cromwell stayed during the siege of the town in 1644, is set for a facelift.
80 Knaresborough High Street, which dates back to 1764, has been derelict for decades.
Knaresborough was a Royalist stronghold during the English civil war but surrendered after Cromwell’s Parliamentarian forces laid siege to the castle for four months.
Harrogate Borough Council has applied to turn the building which is on the site where he is reputed to have stayed, as well as a former weaver’s workshop on number 82, into flats and new shops.
The council purchased the two Grade II listed properties in 2019 from developer Freshwater Group with the intention to bring them back into use.
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The application proposes to refurbish and retain the existing vacant retail units on the ground floor and turn the upper levels into four flats.
The council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday next week to decide on the plans, which are recommended for approval.
The application is supported by both Knaresborough Civic Society and York Georgian Society.