The History Group

Leader:  Ronald (Yogi) Godwin - history@ashbyu3a.co.uk - phone 01530 467840

Yogi is ably assisted by Jane Barnett, Barbara Ball, Colin Ellis, Jane Harris and Isobel Salt

All Ashby u3a members are welcome at our meetings.

All meetings with speakers will be held at Packington Memorial Hall on the 4th Thursday of the month.
Doors open for Packington meetings at 2.15pm. Admission £2

Details of visits will be advised closer to the time.
The following dates have been arranged, but may be subject to changes which will be announced as and when they are known.

Thursday 26th February.

Today 43 of us had the pleasure of our own Yogi telling us about one of his Ashby Heroes: William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, 1431 to 1483

Yogi posed the question: what do people think constitutes a hero? Perhaps they would be someone who did something special for others. Preferably for everyone? But not all heroes wear capes.

A quick round up of the history of Ashby from before its first mention in the Domesday Book as ‘Ascebi’ started with the Invasion in 1066 and William the ‘Bastard’ taking the Kingdom. It had, of course, been in existence before then and there is some evidence of a settlement in Roman times. Why Harold lost the Battle of Hastings has often been discussed but most are agreed that the Saxons fought in traditional ways and lost to superior equipment and tactics, including horses, a new and formidable force on the Field.

Among many other gifts Hugh de Grandmesnil was given 65 manors in Leicestershire, including Ascebi. As Ascebi comprised only 20 houses at the time it wasn’t a great prize. But its location was fortuitous, as a crossroads between the major towns of Leicester, Derby, Burton and Tamworth.

The la Zouche’s later married into Hugh’s family at the time when his line ran out of male heirs, so gave the town the extension to its name. In 1220 Richard de la Zouch gained a charter from the King to hold a Fair and a Market and proceeded to make it pay by granting the local Burghers strips of land at right angles to the new Market street on fields to the west of the original settlement. Market street was then closed off by toll gates at the east and west ends, forcing all through traffic along Market Street to the benefit of the burghers. The tolls of course went to Richard.

The town grew prosperous and William’s father, Sir Leonard (1396 – 1455) who fought at Agincourt became a court favourite. William grew up as a competent knight and became friends with the future Edward IV. Well trained he turned out to be an excellent leader of men and fought with distinction in the Wars of the Roses. Surviving the bloody Battle of Towton, in which Edward triumphed over Henry VI, William was knighted on the Field of Battle: a singular honour.

After Edward was crowned, Wiliam rapidly acquired titles, high office and much riches. One of his perks was to ‘castellate’ the existing castle, which involved building the Hastings Tower. He also had two other castles, including Kirkby Muxloe which was neither finished nor occupied. It seems he was a great benefactor to the town and his tenants, but not very good with managing his own finances.

However, in April 1483 Edward died in his bed (a rare royal occurrence at the time) and Richard III took the throne. Yogi touched on the murky story of his accession and the disappearance of Edward V and his brother Richard. This meant the end for William, executed in July. All his lands and titles were confiscated. Richard’s reign was, however, short lived, and he lost the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Then Wiliam’s heirs regained their inheritance. William’s heritage is in the prosperity of the town and his furtherance of its position linking the main cities around it.

So: was Wiliam a hero within the meaning? The meeting seemed unconvinced! But perhaps we had not really thought it through enough.

Another thought-provoking canter through the pages of local history. Many thanks Yogi!

Earlier history meeting