Leaders: Ian and Rita Clark

In a day of relentless rain a group of eight met at the charming and ancient parish church of All Saints between Broughton and Elslack, welcomed by a church warden and another member.  Ian had accumulated considerable historic information about this ancient church, founded in the first half of the 12th century to serve both Broughton and Elslack.  The early structure used much of the stone of the nearby derelict Roman fort, Burwen Castle on the Roman road from the once busy port of Ribchester to York.  We learned that the village of Elslack suffered much devastation and misery in the 17th century, during the Civil War, from the aggressive rivalry between the two prominent families of Cliffords of Skipton and Tempests of Broughton.

Alabaster statue
Alabaster statue

Due to the excessive rainfall, we spent much time in the church, which provided considerable interesting features including a crusader’s stone coffin lid incorporated in the path near the porch, the double Norman arch inside the porch, the 14th century chancel roof timbers, two alabaster statues that were found in the churchyard in 1871 (which had probably been thrown out during the reign of Henry VIII),

the memorials to the Tempest family in the Tempest chapel plus 14th century oak and 15th century panelling, a headstone mounted on its side within the north wall of the chapel which is considered to have been for a communal grave to commemorate those who were executed following the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1537.  Originally the church was without tower or aisle, and the nave was probably enlarged during the 15th century.  (Ref. ‘Outstanding Churches in Craven’.)

Panelling from 14th and 15th Century
Panelling from 14th and 15th Century
Communal Headstone - Pilgrimage of Grace
Communal Headstone – Pilgrimage of Grace
Stained Glass
Stained Glass

The hospitality of the church wardens included coffee and homemade biscuits which set us up before donning waterproofs again and driving into Elslack village.  Elslack has always been a farming community and we had hoped to spend relaxed time appreciating interesting houses of earlier centuries and the old Hall with its huge 17th century barn, but in the soggy conditions we observed but relied on the available notes for the valuable information.  Elslack Hall was a manor house rebuilt in c.16th century, presumably on the site of the original Hall of the 14th century.  The hall was altered again in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a few lancet windows are still visible from the 14th century building, and evidence of a moat.  Datestones on the hall and the large roadside barn, RB 1672, presumably commemorate the restorations of the hall by Robert Benson.  Robert Benson was the father of the first Lord Bingley who founded Bramham Park.  Robert bought the manor of Elslack in about 1665 from Henry Currer of Gawthorp, and the manor remained with the Benson family until it was purchased by James Fox of Bramham Park in c.1820.  (Ref. John Dixon’s Journeys through Brigantia.)

The nearby site of the Roman fort (80 AD to 370 AD) only reveals turf bumps now but evidence of the Roman road can still be located in sections.  Ian and only two members chose to include an inspection of the site (while the rest of us scuttled into the Tempest Arms for the fireside and a necessary lunch when the group was complete again.)

Words and photos by Phyllida

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