The Spanish Lady and the English Soldier - A visit to Haugh in Lincolnshire

Come with me to visit the remote hamlet of Haugh in Lincolnshire, with its tiny Norman church and its Elizabethan Manor House. Inside the church is a monument to an Elizabethan soldier who is associated with a once well-known legend of the unrequited love of a Spanish noblewoman.

[@davidcope5736]

Lincolnshire is great, i really want to revisit Lincoln. Probably my favourite medeval city in England, the setting for the cathedral is so dramatic.

[@steveriggan8944]

Allan, this is an interesting video. This touches on my family history again. The monument to Charles Bolle shows his parents as Richard Bolle and Jane Skipwith. Jane was the oldest sister to my 13x great grandfather Henry Skipwith who died at Tugby, Leics. in 1588. I just recently worked up the Bolle lineage because Richard and Jane Skipwith Bolle were ancestors of the Queen Mother. They were also ancestors of William Wilberforce of emancipation fame. I presented this to a forum of Skipwith descendants in the United States and many of our family were unaware of this connection. Jane Skipwith Bolle and her brother Henry Skipwith (mine) were siblings to Mary (Skipwith) Fitzwilliam who was an ancestor of Sir Isaac Newton. The list of descendants is really very interesting.

[@michealgillman7418]

Fantastic history, thanks for sharing, as we would never hear such stories.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure.

[@brooksiefan]

Thank you so much for your dedication. So much of history has already been obliterated, we cannot allow these few remnants of mankind's heritage to be lost because of sheer disregard.

[@allanbarton]

That is my sentiment too, so much has been lost and these places are precious.

[@tfSmudge]

Fascinating 👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@JaRule6]

Oh my gosh, you're so awesome. I love hearing about these nuggets of history ❤ Thank you for finding and sharing your discoveries with us 🙏🏻

[@nickimontie]

Such a beautiful landscape and historical buildings. I would love to visit!

[@carmenfoster6912]

Unbelievable the amount of elizabethan and medeival structures that still exists in England this is wonderful a gift

[@allanbarton]

It's a privilege to share such wealth of historical remains. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@TerryC69]

Hi Allan! I can imagine old grandfathers telling that tale with gusto to their wee grand youngins across the years. The architecture of the old church is a lovely thing.

[@alisonalder7317]

I was listening recently to a podcast about the Friends of Friendless Churches. Thet might be interested in your little church. I was on holiday a few years ago in the Kielder area where the hamlet of Greenhaugh was pronounced Greenhalf. Here in my part of South Lanarkshire the word haugh is usually pronounced 'hoch' as in loch or sometimes as 'haw' as in hawthorn. A haugh is usually a semi-wet area with ponds and damp areas.

[@amymahers2957]

So many places to see in your beautiful England. We travelled there years ago to find an ancestor in Boxford, Suffolk. Found him we did…under the carpet of St. Mary’s church in Boxford. That trip cemented my love for the English countryside. I hope to come back someday and do exactly what your doing, appreciating and enjoying the many many lovely places. Til then, I’ll see them through your lens and please accept my heartfelt thanks for your efforts to educate us on your country. Regards, Amy in Alabama, USA.

[@keithkennedy-tyson8578]

Hello Allan. Your video sent me ferreting in my study. I eventually found what I wanted. In The Stately Homes of England, L. Jewitt & S.C. Hall, London 1881, pp. 35,36, there is a reference to the same story, but whilst also mentioning Sir John Bolle it also puts forward the claim that Sir Richard Leveson of Trentham, Staffordshire, was the hero. However I agree that the story seems to be just that, a story, and not history. Perhaps two families just found the ballard just too tempting and just 'had' to add it into their history. Yours Keith.

[@EllenCFarmGirl]

Thank you ❤

[@388Caroline]

Thank you, Allan. Loved seeing this lovely church but sad it’s not taking care of.

[@allanbarton]

It is very sad, unfortunately a lot of churches are similarly neglected. We have a looming heritage crisis on the horizon. I hope my videos highlight the value of these places.

[@annettewillis2797]

Another fabulous ramble and thoroughly interesting tale of the lady in the green dress! It's lovely to see worked alabaster. It is so soft yet carves so beautifully. I loved the image of the husband and wife and eight children!

[@marthavanbeek-putters]

Beautiful love story and also beautiful little church. Thank you for the video Martha

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@n990]

You were there at a beautiful time of day! I want to go there! Thank you so much!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@deniseatkins9407]

What a cute little place

[@allanbarton]

Indeed! Thanks for watching.

[@conemadam]

What a wonderful story !!!!

[@lisacreagh8686]

Great story! Looks so peaceful there! Would be nice if someone could keep the area from deteriorating. Thanks for sharing!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@TuckerSP2011]

I'm really enjoying seeing these beautiful churches and monuments and learning more about them. Regards from New York.

[@allanbarton]

So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching .

[@stepps511]

What a great story! And a crumbling treasure there. So much to hang onto in England, if only there were the funds and interest to do so. Thank you so much for this video.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@finlayfraser9952]

Splendid!

[@carolescutt2257]

😊thanks was such a fun and historic [ish] tale 😊 bravo Sir x

[@philiproseel3506]

Indeed, a beautiful spot.

[@allanbarton]

It is lovely, so bleak and unspoilt.

[@davidd6171]

Wonderful video again Allan! I'm jealous of all the traveling you get to do. Especially in the name of history and making great videos.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. I'm blessed with my work, for sure!

[@elizabethcornwell4156]

I live in Watershaugh Rd it’s promounced” hoff” as you said & up here in Northumberland its taken to mean a high bluff of land by a river.Would that apply to Lincolnshire though?What a lovely little church & what a shame its innsuch a state.

[@prarieborn6458]

This church is the resting place of the ancestors of this village. In effect it is a Cemetary, as you mentioned the floor is paved with gravestones. does that add any weight to the case for preseervation ? Was it dedicated to a Saint? is there any way to find out? i dozed off a bit while reading comments tonight. I had a brief “dream” that i was inside the church and i was aware of a man wearing a plain brown robe, and he could “see” in his mind that the ‘Lads” were coming , from the “wood”, or bringing wood, to the church. I woke up suddenly with the clear impression that help to preserve the church could be obtained by calling on the Saint of the church. or perhaps a Saint who is a patron of restoring sacred sites. This little church needs a miracle.

[@jilltagmorris]

Thank you again Allan!

[@allanbarton]

Pleasure 😊

[@davidmclaughlin2796]

So beautiful

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Oh! so sad this treasure of a church is allowed to fall into this condition. Can the Churches Conservation Trust help in any way? Thank you for sharing, so pleased to have found your Channel.

[@kathywolfe6606]

Very nice!

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

Hi Allan. Have you visited St Mary's Harrington ? There are two kneeling memorial figures there similar to these. I can't remember who they are but I do recall that he died in 1599 in late December, just missing the 17th century by a few days. The church is on the National Churches Trust website but seems to be in use - Episcopalian I think. It is next door to Harrington Hall which still exists and I believe is a private residence now. Harrington was the inspiration for Tennyson's Come into the garden Maude. I think he had a crush on a girl who lived there. It might be a place you may want to cover. I used to live in Louth and of course have heard about the Green lady of Thorpe Hall. The hall is a private residence and not open to the public. In some booklet or other I read that the family traditionally lay a place at table for the Green lady in case she's hungry. Another dubious piece of folklore no doubt.🙂 Love your videos. Very informative.

[@sweptashore]

Another charming location. Wonderfully delicate carving on the font (again, with the atmospheric -- but destructive-- algal bloom) and the wall memorial is exceptional. I do hope a plan can be worked out to preserve this lovely piece of history.

[@neilpatterson1615]

Love your content

[@deborah85728]

Intrigued with the tale told , so similar to one of a later century during the Peninsula War . Sir Harry Smith’s protection was sought by a high born Spanish lady during the storming of Badajoz , especially for her 14 year old sister , who did indeed become his wife very soon after , and later a very popular wife of the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope when he was so appointed, with two town’s named after her ! 🇿🇦

[@stephanieking4444]

Very interesting tale. Can you share references to the sources mentioning the story of the Spanish lady and the English soldier? And where can we find the manuscript with the ballad? Thank you very much in advance 😊

[@neckoil]

went there a few weeks ago

[@downtonviewer]

Bother! I was hoping you'd sing a verse or two, you big tease.

[@allanbarton]

😂

[@monicacall7532]

I’ve noticed in several of your videos that there’s a low door, usually on the south side of the chancel (although it’s on the north side of this particular church). It’s typically lower than the door to the nave. Is there a particular reason or tradition for putting a “sunken” door in the chancel? BTW The carvings on the sides of table top tomb are exquisite!

[@monicacall7532]

Oops! That was a wall panel and not a table top tomb. Sorry about that😩

[@nicoleroth3127]

Currently watching your videos back-to-back and hence noticing, that this is the second village church, that is in a horrible state with damp and moldy walls and looking completely abandoned. It seems almost as if no service was held there in decades, judging by the lumber and the other random stuff lying and standing around in the background. I'm seriously shocked and saddened at their state. In Germany, where I live, I've yet to come across such a neglected church or chapel, and I hope I never will. The only thing that comes close are the remnants of a chapel of a village that was abandoned after (and because of) the Thirty-Years-War. But it was purposely dismantled and used for building material leaving only a tiny portion of it in situ. That's different kettle of fish, I'd say. But all the other churches, and mind the one in the village where I live is a 1000 year old structure that's almost unchanged on the outside, while the inside is a jumble of later styles (most prominently Renaissance and Baroque) and it's not only maintained, but in use, as are all the other churches around here. - And this is not a very religious area either. Regardless, service is provided at least once a month. Aside for service, our church is also used for concerts and lectures (most befittingly on local history) and as such is still the heart of the village, just as pretty much everywhere around here. Yes, some churches also suffer from dampness, but as soon as it was noticed, a dehumidifier was brought in and the problem pretty easily solved. The Curch of England should be ashamed to let their heritage go to waste in such a way. And while some might think that England has such a vast history that a couple of buildings more or less don't matter, I would disagree. They do, and once they are lost, nothing will bring them back. And just to think of what England lost already due to the dissolution of the monasteries? It's as tragic as the wilfull destruction of Catholic iconography by the Protestants here. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't any issues in Germany when it comes to monument protection. The privately-owned and monument-protected castle in our village needs serious renovation. Thankfully, its underway now, though I've heard from the owner, that the amount of paperwork to get permission to do anything is insane and to get started was a more than ten-year long struggle during which things turned from bad to worse, creating more work. The irony is hard to miss... Anyway, your videos are great and absolutely captivating. Thank you!

[@dianapatterson1559]

Hɔː is the IPA pronunciation given in Forster, Klaue. A Pronouncing Dictionary of English Place-Names including standard local and archaic variants. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981. So this would be something like Haw.

[@Lacteagalaxia]

This reminds me a lot histprically and this IS histprically thruth of a spanish sailor soldier who fought un the great army with England in 1.588 named Francisco de Cuéllar born in 1.562 in Valladolid Who was shipwrecked on the irish coast and was welcolme and live there as one more he was even offered marriage with a woman until her left and managed to returns to spanish domains; and there is even a place in Ireland named cuellar ;trail because It is where shipwrecked ;this story the video seems me more legend than thruth and paradoxes of Life on 1.589 England would also fall and its is army against spain

[@michaelwhite8031]

Is anything being done to protect this church ?

[@lablackzed]

Why is this not a protected monument .🤔

[@allanbarton]

It is a grade 1 listed building, but sadly resources to preserve buildings are limited.

[@lablackzed]

@@allanbarton Yet stacks of cash for illegal migrants and other peoples wars it makes my blood boil sorry for the rant.

[@nadiabrook7871]

💖👍💚XXXX

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DH-zp7bc]

I had a romance with some Spanish women and I'm from Lincolnshire. For whatever reason they liked me and I reciprocated. I miss those times.

[@allanbarton]

All at once, or one at a time?

[@daneberhardt2718]

I miss the intro music :(

[@selmashipping1663]

1J

[@lisacreagh8686]

Great story! Looks so peaceful there! Would be nice if someone could keep the area from deteriorating. Thanks for sharing!