University of Sheffield History Society

🧻 HISTORY BITE 3- MANOR LODGE

Join Bess at Manor Lodge- the prison of both Mary, Queen of Scots, and Cardinal Wolsey.

In 1530 Cardinal Wolsey was imprisoned at Manor Lodge. He had been Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, and was highly influential in the Tudor court (just ask Hilary Mantel!).

He was slow to react to the annulment of the marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, so Henry VIII imprisoned him and sent him to Manor Lodge for 18 days.

Cardinal Wolsey started to display symptoms of what he would later die of- dysentery. This is key, as we still have the toilet which would have been in his tower.

I can’t help putting two and two together...

💧 HISTORY BITES 2: DALE D**E RESERVOIR

Join Bess on a (very windy) trip to Dale D**e Reservoir, where 114 million cubic metres of water burst out of the embankment, and into Sheffield.

Sheffield’s population had grown massively in the 40 years leading up to the Great Flood. The water at Dale D**e was needed to supply this swelling population, and so the Sheffield Waterworks Company built the reservoir.

However, on March 11th 1864, the embankment burst. Water flooded out of the reservoir and into the Loxley Valley, leaving destruction in its path. Buildings were destroyed, and over 240 people died.

This was the worst civilian catastrophe in Victorian history.

🏰 HISTORY BITE 1: CONISBROUGH CASTLE
Join Bess for a whistlestop tour of Conisbrough Castle, looking at the Southampton Plot of 1415, which was forged there.

Richard Earl of Cambridge (also known as Richard of Conisbrough) and several other Yorkshire nobles plotted to kill Henry V at Southampton just before Agincourt in 1415. Their plan was to depose Henry V and place Edmund of Langley on the throne instead. The nobles met here, at Conisbrough, to forge the plan.

But the plot was foiled! Richard of Conisbrough was executed and Henry V went on
to continue fighting in the 100 Years’ War, eventually winning at Agincourt.

Richard, Earl of Cambridge did something very important, however, for later conflicts. His son was Richard of York (who gave battle in vain 🌈). York made a bid for the throne in 1460, and headed the Yorkist army during the Wars of the Roses.

Conisbrough Castle, a Yorkist castle with a fascinating history, is easily accessible by bus or train- perfect for a day out!

Introducing our new segment History Bites!
Bess has just finished her first year, and will be our historical tour guide to Sheffield over the summer. Expect dressing up, castles, plots, (lots of) steel, and stories from across the city all summer long.