richardgregory48
Knaresborough North Yorkshire
Knaresborough's most famous resident of all time was undoubtedly Mother Shipton, the famous 'witch' of Yorkshire who was born in a cave in Knaresborough in 1488 during a violent thunder storm.
Mother Shipton's original name was Ursula Southeil and her mother, Agatha, died giving birth to Ursula. The birth was said to be accompanied by eerie screams, though some may think that not so unusual.
Throughout her childhood Ursula was associated with myserious events, such as furniture moving up and down stairs of its own accord. Later she married Tony Shipton near York in 1512 and became well known as a fortune teller. Her crooked facial features frightened many - though presumably not Tony - and she was often thought to be a witch.
Mother Shipton is associated with many famous predictions and is said to have foretold the Great fire of London and the defeat of the Spanish Armada as well as the invention of telegraphs and trains
Apart from Mother Shipton and the murderers of Thomas a Becket , a number of other famous folk are associated with Knaresborough. Guy Fawkes once lived here, Edward III visited here, Oliver Cromwell slept in a Royal fishing lodge here and Richard II was imprisoned here. Other Knaresborough notables included William Slingsby (died 1634), the founder of Harrogate's spa who is comemorated in Knaresborough's church and Blind Jack Metcalfe (1717-1810) a violinist, road surveyor, forest guide and smuggler.
Knaresborough North Yorkshire
Knaresborough's most famous resident of all time was undoubtedly Mother Shipton, the famous 'witch' of Yorkshire who was born in a cave in Knaresborough in 1488 during a violent thunder storm.
Mother Shipton's original name was Ursula Southeil and her mother, Agatha, died giving birth to Ursula. The birth was said to be accompanied by eerie screams, though some may think that not so unusual.
Throughout her childhood Ursula was associated with myserious events, such as furniture moving up and down stairs of its own accord. Later she married Tony Shipton near York in 1512 and became well known as a fortune teller. Her crooked facial features frightened many - though presumably not Tony - and she was often thought to be a witch.
Mother Shipton is associated with many famous predictions and is said to have foretold the Great fire of London and the defeat of the Spanish Armada as well as the invention of telegraphs and trains
Apart from Mother Shipton and the murderers of Thomas a Becket , a number of other famous folk are associated with Knaresborough. Guy Fawkes once lived here, Edward III visited here, Oliver Cromwell slept in a Royal fishing lodge here and Richard II was imprisoned here. Other Knaresborough notables included William Slingsby (died 1634), the founder of Harrogate's spa who is comemorated in Knaresborough's church and Blind Jack Metcalfe (1717-1810) a violinist, road surveyor, forest guide and smuggler.