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Stratford Martyrs

Categories: Execution, Religion

The church website has done a very thorough job on the history not just of the memorial but the church and the area so we quote them here on the background to the martyrs: "In 1553 Queen Mary Tudor came to the throne of England. She was a devout Roman Catholic and longed to bring her people back to the church of Rome. This made her unpopular with English noblemen who had acquired wealth and lands when Henry VIII confiscated the Catholic monasteries, and also with Parliament. In 1554 an unsuccessful Protestant insurrection broke out under the leadership of Sir Thomas Wyat. Wyat was defeated and executed. Mary married the Catholic King Philip II of Spain, she restored the Catholic creed, and revived the laws against heresy. For three years rebel bodies dangled from gibbets, and heretics were relentlessly executed, some 300 being burned at the stake. The queen, now known as Bloody Mary, was hated. She died in 1558, in London, and with her died the persecutions."

Garry at St John's also kindly gave us permission to use two of their pictures, this one and Bolton.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Stratford Martyrs

Commemorated ati

Stratford Martyrs

The event on 27 June 1556 was a big draw: "These 11 men and 2 women were brou...

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Other Subjects

Sir William Stanley

Sir William Stanley

Soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses.  Born Lancashire.  Originally a Yorkist, he switched sides and in 1485 fought at Bosworth Field for Tudor Henry VII, for which he was appointed Lord Cha...

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Lord Balmerino

Lord Balmerino

Jacobite.  Taken prisoner at the Battle of Culloden.  Tried and beheaded on the Tower Hill scaffold.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Scotland

1 memorial
John Bradford

John Bradford

Protestant martyr burned at Smithfield.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Stephen Harwood

Stephen Harwood

Burnt at the stake in Stratford for his Protestant beliefs. A brewer, associated with Fust. Condemned by Bishop Bonner.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Elizabeth Pepper

Elizabeth Pepper

Burnt at the stake in Bow (or possibly Stratford) for her Protestant beliefs.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial