Hello Hazlewood history-lovers!

Welcome to our history blog, it’s a pleasure to have you here. As I was putting my thoughts together for this blog I was struggling to reach the intricate detail of what makes Hazlewood’s history so rich. I then thought, who better to educate us than our resident historian, Steve Watson? Have you met Steve? I hope you have! He’s not only a phenomenal historian, but a phenomenal employee at the Castle and has been for a number of years. He knows all there is to know about Hazlewood’s past, and I asked him to share some of his finest facts. Let’s delve, shall we? 

Shakespeare’s sonnet 127,“The Dark Lady”, refers to Anne Vavasour of Hazlewood. “My mistresses eyes are raven black” - Steve’s favourite passage!

The first registered owners of Hazlewood were 2 Saxons; Gamel and Arkil. Arkil was one of the Saxons who drove the Normans from York in 1069.

In 1066, Duke William of Normandy landed in England with his Knights, Barons and Vavasours. This is the origin of how the Vavasours arrived at Hazlewood in 1086 and stayed for nearly 900 years!

The Domesday book outlines details of Mauger le Vavasour; the first French occupant of Hazlewood. He had 3 Carucates (a medieval unit of land) and the land can be taxed and may have two ploughs.

There is a stone carved statue of Robert Le Vavasour on the west facade of the York Minster. A rite of passage was created by Robert between his limestone quarry at Thievesdale and York Minster for the purposes of repair and enlargement.

St Leonard’s Chapel was built in 1290 by William Vavasour. The family chaplain would say Mass each day and the Chapel did not pay Church taxes as it was not a parish church. This was in reward for giving the Minster stone.

The battle of Towton took place on 29th March 1461 during the war of the roses near Towton in North Yorkshire, and has the dubious distinction of being the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil. It was Palm Sunday and the Vavasours taking Mass could hear the noise, which was fought on their land only a mile and a half away.

During the English civil war in 1642, Walter Vavasour raised a regiment of cavalry to support King Charles 1st in his battle against Oliver Cromwell. His brother, Thomas, was killed at Marston Moor. Cromwell’s men broke the heads of statues in Hazlewood’s Chapel.

In 1908, William Vavasour was forced to sell Hazlewood but provision was made for Catholic worship to go on.

During WW1, Leeds regional board used the Castle as a maternity hospital. In 1972, the Carmelite friars took over Hazlewood as a retreat centre. It became a hotel in 1997.

Thank you to Steve for this fantastic bank of knowledge. Come back for more history in our next blog where we’ll be discussing the ‘Hazlewood Babies’. Until next time.