For over 300 years the Parish Church of St. Mary, Bromesberrow, has been the custodian of two flags which were carried in action during the First Civil War.

The church's account of the story of these flags was worked out by Edward Fraser, writing in the Society of Army History Research in 1923:

'Col. Rice Yate, when a young Royalist officer, commanding a troop of Horse, captured the Parliamentary standard and, after his death, his family placed the two standards in their chapel for safety and preservation. Col, Yate, as a lad of 18 or 19, held a ci of Horse, commanded by the Earl of Macclesfield, with the rank of CaptainLieutenant, or subaltern in charge of the first or colonel's troop of the Regiment.

Lord Macclesfield, as commander-in chief of the King's army in the Western Midlands and Wales, was a vigorous and daring leader and, on several occasions in his Welsh campaign, routed Parliamentarian forces opposed to him, in the course of which the captured standard now in the church was probably taken and presumably, according to the usage of the time, presented to the officer commanding the victorious unit. The Royalist troop standard would, at the end of the war, according to custom on dispersal of troops, fall to the officer in charge.

That seems to account reasonably for Col. Yate's possession of both.

These two together are thus of exceptional, if not unique, historic interest.

Some 90 years ago the flags were repaired, cleaned and suspended in gauze by the Royal School of Art Needlework; and in 1966 were housed in a glass fronted strong case, where they have remained ever since. In August 1992 they were examined and photographed by the Curator of the C16/17 collection of the Museum of London, who recommended that they be examined by the Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court Palace. In November 1992 the Principal of the RSN came to view the flags and to submit a reoprt to the Parochial Church Council of the work needed, and the cost.

We now have that report and the work of conservation, repainting, repairing, enclosing the flags in their case and their transportation, will cost £ 3,431 inclusive of VAT.

The P.C.C. has unanimously agreed that this work must proceed. The flags are unique and a most important part of our contry's history. It is because of this that we are making our appeal to various Historical Societies, English Heritage, Army Museums, Livery Companies, and the Yate family. Please will you help us to preserve this unique part of our English Heritage.

Rev. Peter English
On behalf of Bromesberrow P.C.C.
The Old Rectory Blomesberrow,
Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 IRU

Flags

Royalist flag 21.5" x 24" is of plain white silk, painted on both sides. It reads "Religio Protestantium Leges Angliae Libertates Parlamentorum"

The Parliamentarian flag, 21" x 21" is of figured red silk. It reads "Ora Et Pugna Juvit Et Juvabit Jehovah" -- "Pray and Fight, God has helped and will help."

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