b'The Site of the Archbishop of Yorks PalaceAndrew SeftonI n 934 1King Athelstan of Northumbria was about tonecessity to the Archbishops it warranted the expense make war with the Scots when at Lincoln he met aof puddling or lining the chalk.band of pilgrims who had joyously declared that theyThe first recorded letters written by the had been healed of all manner of diseases by visitingArchbishops from Wylton or Wilton are found in the the tomb of the blessed John of Beverley. Their storyFabric Rolls of York Minster. Archbishop Gray (1216 induced the King to pay a visit to the tomb at Beverley 1255) signed at least 52 documents 6from Wilton. by crossing the Humber whilst his army went roundPrior to this, in the twelfth century, the only reference by the old Roman road to York. Athelstan placed hiswas Saint William (Archbishop of York, 1140-1154) knife on the high altar at Beverley, as a pledge of thelisting one of his miracles as the healing of a blind rewards that he would bestow upon the church if hewoman in Bishop Wilton.were successful in his journey. He then saw a visionLetters from the Palace are usually written in Latin; of John of Beverley appearing before his eyes, andexamples are one written by Archbishop Giffard in he heard the words Pass fearlessly with your army,1272 agreeing to pay his clerk Nicholas de Welles for you shall conquer. The prophecy came true and16s 8d for household expenses, and later Archbishop Athelstan was victorious in the battle of BrunanburhGreenfield in February 1308 extolling the virtues of under the banner of John carried from Beverley. Upona gardener, Johanni Hurland, and a servant named his return, he liberally fulfilled his pledge and endowed Johns church with grants of land, tolls, and the rightC awood was developed as the main of Sanctuary. Bishop Wilton is linked to this story byresidence and in 1271 Archbishop being part of the gift of lands given to the church; thisGiffard acquired a licence from King is reinforced by the west window of St Ediths whichHenry III to furnish his manor house with portrays a portrait of both King Athelstan and Saintbattlements, thus converting it into a castle. John of Beverley. Drake 2states that the Manor ofVisitations by British royalty increased Cawood Wilton was given with three carucates of land to theCastles importance before and about this Archbishop Wulstanus of York (931956) by Kingtime, and it became known as the Windsor Athelstan of Northumbria who died in 939 A.D., alongof the North. King John visited it for fox with Beverley, Ripon, Otley, Cawood and Sherburn. hunting in 1210 and 1212. In 1255 King Henry There was no mention of the Palace in theIII and his wife, Eleanor, stayed there en route Domesday Book of 1086, but there is reference to ato Scotland to visit their daughter, Margaret, church and a priest. It also mentions that the valuewho had married Alexander III. About 1299 of the manor before 1066 was 14 and after was 4.King Edward I started for Scotland to subdue This indicates the manor did suffer under Williamsthe Scots, who were attempting to free their revenge attacks on Yorkshire following rebellion, but atcountry from English rule. Edwards wife, least fared better than Fridaythorpe which is describedMargurete of France, gave birth to a prince, as waste in 1086. The Palace at Wilton was believedThomas de Brotherton, and she and her son to have been built in the time of Archbishop Gray 3 resided at Cawood, with Edward visiting her (12161255), who is thought to have built anotherfrequently over the next five years. Edward residence at Bishop Burton and also added to thealso held some of his parliaments here. King manor house at Cawood (his main residence) at thisEdward II stayed at the castle in 1314 after he time. The building of the Palace at Wilton may havewas defeated in the Battle of Bannockburn. coincided with the making of Wilton as a prebend inHe and his queen stayed there in 1316 and 1241 4 . The Palace at Bishop Burton was not moated 5 ,again in 1322. And King Henry VIII stayed at perhaps because it was situated on dry chalk. BishopCawood Castle with Catherine Howard in 1540 Wilton Palace had a fine moat and fishpond systemwhen she was a bride. It is possible that some built on clay, filled by a strong running stream fedof these important individuals also visited the by the many springs from the upper slopes. BishopPalace at Wilton when staying at Cawood.Burton had a fish pond and as this was an important 1 The Story of the East Riding of Yorkshire by Horace B. Browne. 1912. 2 Eboracum the history and antiquities of the city of York by Francis Drake. 1736. 3 History of the Parish & Manor of Bishopthorpe by John R. Keble. 1905. 4 Wild HeathThe History of Bishop Wilton by Richard Sefton 5 The Moated Sites of Yorkshire, Soc. Med. Archaeol. Monog. Ser. 5. H.E.J. Le Patourel, 1973 6 History of the Parish & Manor of Bishopthorpe by John R. Keble. 1905, p. 108 BULLETIN 5 65'