A Stone For The Dead Who Didn’t Exist

Here’s an oddity: a stone erected in 1812 to commemorate an event that might have happened early in 1643, during the Civil War.

Confused yet?

Let me give you some brief background. Sir William Savile occupied Leeds. He was a Royalist, loyal to Charles. Meanwhile, the Parliamentarians, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax were approach, determined to take the town. Savile had thrown up defences: to the west, a trench that ran from St. John’s Church down to the river, another trench to the north, and one on the Leeds side of the bridge across the Aire.

The attack was coming…

The tale goes that the night before, a Parliamentary patrol on Woodhouse Ridge saw some Royalist troops down by Meanwood Beck – where Meanwood Road is now, close to Batty’s Wood.

They attacked, and Charles’ men scattered, running as far as Carr Manor fields, about half a mile. There at least one of them died.

The next day, in a snowstorm, the Roundheads began their attack on Leeds, from the west and the south. A preacher, shouting out Psalm 68, led the men across Leeds Bridge. They captured the cannon shooting at them, and fought house by house up Briggate until they met the forces that had advance from the west. Savile (who himself had taken Leeds a few months earlier) escaped, along with the Vicar of Leeds.

Back to Carr Manor fields.

There is no documentary evidence of the Battle of Meanwood/Battle of Stainbeck/Battle of Batty’s Wood. It’s legend. Myth. However, musket balls have been found in the dirt by the beck, giving some truth to it all.

There’s absolutely no evidence of any bodies on the field. But in 1812, the Oates family had the stone erected on their land – they owned much of the area, including what is now Meanwood Park.

The Latin inscription translates as Neither do the lands know themselves in the turning of the year. Very enigmatic. But perhaps that’s apt for a commemoration of someone who probably never existed, and an event that may or may not have happened.

Forgive finishuing with an ad, but The Dead Will Rise was published in March, and I’d love for you to read. It dages for just a few years after this stone was erected.