FULFORD lastest news

Below are two reports on the dismal news about Fulford. First is from the local BBC news site and then the other is from the York Press. My reaction is of course disgust and sadness on allowing the whole thing to be outside the control of both the local Parish Council and he people who live there. It also raises serious questions as to the credibility of English Heritage, who AGAIN have failed to be the guardians of Englands historic sites when threatened by modern development.

 

All the recent coverage in Radio, TV and the Press is too little, too late. If there was every any doubt about the site being the place of the battle then why didn't EH insist on a full and proper archaeological dig to the developers (as happens elsewhere before ground is broken) to finalise the question once and for all. But this they refused despite Chas Jones' findings and even their admittance it PROBABLY is the site after all...BUT EH will not still add it to the official Battlefields Register - it defies logic!!

 

Oh and P.S. - the Battlesfields Trust has kept very quiet on this matter...again its support has been sorely missed....

 

Fulford homes to be built on 1066 'battle site'

BBC News 25th April 2013

A new decision has been made to build more than 600 homes on the "likely" site of a 1066 battle. The City of York Council planning committee agreed to development on land near Mitchell's Lane, Fulford, York. English Heritage said the site at Germany Beck remained the "most likely candidate" for the Battle of Fulford.

Ben Hudson, an estate agent, said York had a great shortage of new homes and it was "increasingly difficult to get a foot on the housing ladder." Outline planning consent for the scheme was granted in 2007 and a public inquiry into the development was held in 2006. Details of the site's design, appearance and landscaping have now been approved.

Archaeological investigation

English Heritage said it had been the subject of extensive archaeological investigation and significant changes to the landscape had taken place since 1066. The organisation said it was not possible to say that the battle site had been securely identified.

The battle was lost by the defending northern army but it forced King Harold to march north and defeat the invading Vikings at the battle of Stamford Bridge.
The clash at Fulford marked the beginning of the end of Anglo-Saxon rule.
Shortly after the two northern battles, the Norman invasion of 1066 was successful at Hastings.

Chas Jones, a battlefield historian, said: "We have a unique archaeological database here." Mr Jones said there was evidence of the recycling of weapons on the Germany Beck site to re-arm for the next clash. The battle at Stamford Bridge was just days after Fulford. "This is Pompeii as far as battlefields are concerned," he added.

Row over offical's Battle of Fulford site admission

York Press 25th April 2013

AN ENGLISH Heritage official has admitted that Germany Beck – where York planners today look set to give final approval to a 650-home development – probably is the site of the Battle of Fulford.

But he said that including the site in the official Register of Historic Battlefields would “raise the temperature of discussions” regarding the reserved matters planning application. He also revealed that, after the land had been developed, it would be very unlikely to merit inclusion in the Register. 

The comments came in an internal report in February last year to a battlefields panel by Nick Bridgland, the organisation’s Battlefields panel coordinator and designation team Leader (North), as English Heritage considered a request by archaeologist Chas Jones to consider inclusion in the Register. 

Mr Bridgland said: “It is clear the Battle of Fulford is of sufficient historical importance for inclusion in the Register. On the basis of probability, Germany Beck can be identified as the location of the Battle of Fulford.” 

He said inclusion in the register was not obligatory, and added: “Given the planning history of this site, EH is currently considering responding to the request to ‘Register with advice’ which recognises that Germany Beck is likely to be the location of the battle, but that, given the planning situation, refrains from adding the site to the register.” 

Mr Jones said he found the attitude revealed in the document extraordinary, and accused English Heritage of an “utterly cynical dereliction of its duty as guardians of our heritage.” 

Fulford parish chairman Alan Smith said the parish was dismayed at English Heritage’s behaviour. 

An English Heritage spokeswoman said it was always very difficult to determine conclusively the exact site of an early battlefield and the Battle of Fulford was no exception. She said:

“Our staff report was delivered to our Battlefields Panel, an independent body of experts who provide guidance and advice, in February 2012. “By the next meeting, in November 2012, we had carried out a thorough and exhaustive review of all of the evidence before us to suggest Fulford should be added to the register, and we decided the evidence was not conclusive. That is the reason we have not added it to the register.” 

She added that following further representations from Mr Jones, an independent review committee would look at that decision in coming months.