Village of the Week: A bloody battle in a Yorkshire village paved the way for a course of history

Fulford’s history of occupation starts in the Neolithic period (3500 – 2100 BC) and is evidenced by the finding of flints and charcoal deposits, which suggest the use of some sort of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture by hunter-gatherers.

During the Bronze Age (2100 – 700 BC), archaeological records suggest more settled agriculture, but, when the climate deteriorated around 1000 BC farm and woodland was abandoned.

The woodlands around Fulford were reoccupied eventually and all around the modern day parish of Fulford, there are traces of activity by Romano-British agriculture, settlement and industry.

And this would roll along nicely until, and Fulford Parish Council’s historical account says there is written as well as archaeological evidence for, the evolution of Fulford which saw forests being uprooted and turned into agricultural land with Royal permission.

However, in the midst of this were the events which would lead to The Battle of Fulford - fought on the outskirts of the village on September 20, 1066, when King Harald III of Norway, also known as Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson, his English ally, fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar.

Tostig was the English king Harold II's banished brother. He had allied with King Harald of Norway and possibly Duke William of Normandy, but there is no record of the reasoning behind his invasions other than perhaps that he thought he had a claim to the English throne.

The Vikings were defeated days later at Stamford Bridge by the afore-mentioned King Harold II who, in turn, couldn’t withstand the invasion by William, Duke of Normandy, and his army at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066.

It was a Norman victory and historians say, “There is no doubt that if Harold had not been diverted by the battles in the north, then he would have been better prepared to fight William at Hastings and the result might have been different.”

Fulford Parish Council reveals that Fulford makes another contribution to the bloody history of battle as forces were stationed here during the Civil War.

A bridge of boats prevented the besieged Royalists from using the river and allowed the besiegers, based in Middlethorpe and Heslington Halls, to communicate. Evidence of musketry training would later emerge during the rebuilding of St Oswald’s School.

Fulford is mentioned in the Doomsday Book 1086 and likely gets its name from Ford over the beck.

Here, the parish council account adds, the location of earlier settlements is unclear but a plan of a post-conquest village (11th century) of what was Gate Fulford is still clearly visible on the 1759 enclosures map.

Fulford was originally two villages: Water Fulford and Gate Fulford, but in 1828 they were given the name Fulfords Ambo, meaning “both Fulfords”.

This is one of several names used at various times as Folford, Foleforde and Fuletorp appear in early records.

Most of the fields and common land of the parish came to be owned by a few large land owners, for example, a large area of what was historically Water Fulford has passed in succession to the Burrell, Marshall, Taylor, Oates, Key and Wormald families.

To this day, Fulford and York remains linked with the military and the history of Cavalry barracks goes back to possibly 1720.

The Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington Local History Society reports that "the 3rd or Prince of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards, are arrived at the barracks, near York, from the North, where they have been encamped".

In early 1797 the Dumfrieshire Cavalry were stationed at the Barracks. In October 1797 the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry arrived in York Barracks replacing the Ayrshire Cavalry and in August 1799 the Sussex Fencible Cavalry arrived.

The barracks were demolished in 1935 and the site is now the police station.

Fulford does remain home to Imphal Barracks, headquarters of the British Army's 15th Infantry Brigade. Soldiers and their families live in married quarters outside the barracks but the Ministry of Defence plans to close them by 2030.

Aside from bloody battles and conflict, Fulford has developed into a village, with a population of around 3,000 people, that retains period properties and quaint cottages but is also embracing modern living with contemporary houses and apartments too.

Today’s community can enjoy several sporting opportunities from tennis to football and a community sports club as well as parish playing fields.

Fulford Show has been taking place on August Bank Holiday Monday for well over 100 years and the village has also made headlines for its green efforts.

Fulford in Bloom works throughout the year and Greener Cleaner Fulford is a group of like-minded people from the community looking at issues such as recycling, public transport, reducing waste and use of electricity and gas.

The village is also home to the nationally rare Tansy beetle, dubbed The Jewel of York.

One of its last remaining population areas is the River Ouse in York and a project has been developed to ensure their presence in the city for many more years to come.

Last year, 48 insects, with vibrant metallic green colouring, were introduced, in breeding pairs, to an ark’ habitat belonging to York St John University on the banks of the River Foss.

Other than York and the Ouse, the only other location in the UK that the tansy beetle is known to inhabit is The Fens in East Anglia.

However, the village green at Fulford has its own tansy plants and the community is keen to protect its special resident.