Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday 21 August 2024

Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady of Scarborough


This is another Yorkshire centre of Marian devotion which did not make it on to the original Stevenson list. Waterton refers to Our Lady of Scarborough, but gives little in the way of specific details. 

As far as I can see it was not in the historic parish church of St Mary but actually within the adjoining castle overlooking the North Sea. Our Lady’s Well still survives on the headland and is thought to have served the Roman coastal signal station which stood nearby. In the middle ages there was an adjacent chapel dedicated to St Mary, of which only foundations survive. This would suggest that the chapel pre-dated the building of the castle by King Henry II. The chapel and well are shown clearly on a sixteenth century map of the castle and town in Lord Burghley’s Atlas, which can be found online. There is some more information about the site and pictures at Our Lady's Well (Scarborough)


May Our Lafy of Scarborough pray for The King and all the Royal Family and for us all


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