August

1233 – Marauders from Herefordshire!

King Henry III was worried because there were many armed men from Herefordshire roaming the Gloucestershire countryside. Messages were sent to the Sheriff to order an assembly in Campden of all the men with weapons from the north of the county. They were sent out to arrest the marauders and successfully apprehended 12 men, many with Herefordshire names, in ‘part of Kampeden’ on 3rd August

1265 – Battle of Evesham

Thirty years after that excitement, on the 4th August 1265 the Battle of Evesham was fought. Earl Simon de Montfort and his rebellious followers were defeated by Prince Edward, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and the king’s army. Simon and most of his men were massacred. Was Campden involved? We just don’t know for sure but a little later our own lord of the manor, Sir Roger de Somery was rewarded by King Henry III for his support against de Montfort. We can guess that something happened in Campden even if it was just that Sir Roger provided hospitality for some of the lords before or after the battle.

1660 – The ‘Campden Wonder’

William Harrison, the steward to the Noel family went out on 16th August to collect some rents due from tenants at Charingworth and Ebrington. He failed to return and in spite of searches neither he nor his dead body could be found. The tale is known to this day as ‘The Campden Wonder’ and the story of how three people were hanged for his murder and how he turned up safe two years later after astonishing adventures is as mysterious today as it was then.  More information here

4th August 1914 – Outbreak of War

In Campden the Church Fete took place on the day that war was declared.  It was too late to cancel it so it went ahead as scheduled.  More information here