One of the most historic churches in the North West, St Oswald’s Church, Winwick, will open its doors to the public to celebrate its Heritage weekend on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September.
The weekend will feature talks by historians and researchers on two of the most tragic events in the history of this iconic building. One is the memorial commemorating the death almost 200 years ago, of Ellen (Turner) Legh, a young heiress, which united two of the richest families in the land in common grief.
The other will reveal new research into the Battle of Winwick , fought during the Civil War 350 years ago, when over 1.000 Scottish soldiers, supporters of King Charles the lst, died at the hands of Cromwell’s army. Over 1,500 men were taken prisoner. The Royalist army defeat led only a few months later, to the execution of the English king.
Photographs of the period, displays of weapons, the armour worn by the Scottish and English armies of those times and items found after the battle, will be on display at the church. Dr. Andrew Abram, secretary of the Battle of Winwick Society, will be giving an update on research projects in the past year which will include progress on plans to erect a permanent monument on the site of the battlefield in Hermitage Green and news on some of the exciting finds from recent searches on the land.
Eileen Monies, volunteer historical researcher, Lyme Park, National Trust, will present a moving talk on the life and death of Ellen (Turner) Legh a young heiress, whose memorial is in the St Oswald’s Legh family chapel. In 1826 Ellen was abducted from her boarding school by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, a fortune hunter, when she was only 15 and tricked into marriage at Gretna Green. Her abductor was sent to Newgate prison. She met Thomas Legh of Lyme Hall, Disley, one of the magistrates at Wakefield’s trial. They married in the following year. Three years later she died in childbirth aged 19 years.
Reverend Martin Fuller, parish priest at St Oswald’s Church, will open the event. He said: This is a place with a fascinating history and has so much to offer. It will be a privilege and joy to celebrate such a rich heritage. I look forward to welcoming everyone to St Oswald’s and to exciting revelations about the happenings in its past and in the area surrounding it.”
The church will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday 12 September. Reverend Martin Fuller will officiate at the opening at 11 a.m. followed by a talk by Andrew Abram secretary of the Battle of Winwick Society. 2.pm.talk in Parish Hall by Eileen Monies, researcher and historian, Lyme Park, National Trust on the Ellen (Turner) Legh memorial and the circumstances which led to her death.
Sunday 13 September: Church open at 12 noon until 3 p.m. 1 p.m. Battlefield walk with society members.
