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Village remembers plotting brothers

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VILLAGERS in Holderness have united to commemorate the defeat of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Two of the plotters, who failed in an assassination attempt against King James I, were from Welwick.

John and Christopher Wright, who lived at Plowlands Farm, failed in their bid to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London after their plot was revealed to the authorities.

An inscribed plaque commemorating the event can be found on a barrel near the entrance to the village.

Geoff Barry, who is promoting the event, said villagers from Welwick and Weeton joined forces for the project.

"The construction consists of four larger-than-life statues of Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby (leader of plot) and the two brothers, John and Christopher Wright, and it is located at the entrance to the village near to where the latter were born and raised," he said.

The statues have formed a major part of a project to develop arts and crafts in the area and have been partly funded by the Arts Council of Great Britain.

The concept was developed by farmers, local tradesmen and engineers under the leadership of artist Steven Fletcher and the final drawings were executed by the artist, Larry Malkin, after the originals were lost when the vehicle carrying them was stolen.

The 8ft figures are cut from Coreten steel, which is the same material that was used for the Angel Of The North.

Mr Malkin said: "The plot was designed to blow up the House of Lords and kill James I to enable a more Roman Catholic-friendly monarch to take the throne.

"After an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker, fourth baron of Monteagle, warning him not to go to the House of Lords, Guy Fawkes was discovered with his store of gunpowder.

"The rest of the gang fled and most were killed at Holbeche House in Staffordshire. John Wright was reputed to have been one of the finest swordsmen in Europe.

"The Wright brothers not only travelled to Holland to recruit Guy Fawkes, but also visited the King of Spain to ask for his support in the expected revolt that would follow the killing of King James I."

The anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot is still marked each year by Bonfire Night.

The group of statues in Welwick were officially unveiled by Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart.

He said of the Wright brothers: "It seems fitting their part in shaping – or not, as the case was – the governance of our country is commemorated by the village.

"The Gunpowder Plot is a tale we all know and love and this statue is a stark reminder of the reality of an event that is now just a story we tell our children.

"The statue of the plotters is a striking feature against the rural backdrop of South Holderness that will bring inquisitive visitors to the area and intrigue passers-by."


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