Patrons, Succentar and Vicars Choral of York. As two labourers were digging ground for liquorice, in a field called the Paper Mill Field, on the Fryston Hall estate, in the possession of James Brook, they penetrated to a mass of stone, only about eleven inches below the surface, which, on being cleared, proved to be an ancient coffin of undressed stone, without inscription. The lid projected over the sides about two inches, and on being raised in the centre, presented a complete skeleton, of large dimensions, in a high state of preservation. The skull was placed between the thigh bones, and the occupant of this narrow mansion, who had probably, in his day filled a considerable space in society, had evidently suffered decapitation. In the place where the head would have lain in an unmutilated body was a stone.
Nothing remains of the flesh, but some hard white chalky substances.
The place where these relics were found, is about a mile and a quarter from Ferrybridge, in a valley near the road leading to Castleford, and the prevailing opinion is, that these are the remains of Thomas Earl of Lancaster, the unfortunate leader of the insurgent barons, in the battle of Boroughbridge, fought in the year 1321, and who was beheaded at Pontefract, by order of his Nephew, Edward. Information on the following places in this Parish is contained on a supplementary page. There is further information about this parish from Pigot's 1834 Directory Yorkshire section. These pages are intended for personal use only, so please respect the conditions of use.