CHARACTERS FROM CHESTER - STARTING "B"

BY PHILLIP E JONES

[Baldwin de Radington], [Brochfael]

Baldwin de Radington

Radington was the controller of the royal household, who came to Chester in 1394, to procure accommodations and stores for the king, Richard II, who was travelling to Ireland to distract himself from the loss of his Queen.

The royal agent was empowered to imprison any citizen or person that failed to comply with his requests and having reached the city he immediately presented himself at the Abbey of St Werburgh. Whether or not the Abbot refused his demands for accommodation and supplies is not clear, but it was reported that De Radington and his men subsequently attacked the Benedictine house, occupied the precincts and helped themselves to large quantities of the Abbey’s wine stores.

A number of local men, who had called to investigate the disturbance were seized by Radington’s followers and were held against their will. The city’s Mayor, along with his two Sheriff’s then demanded to see the king’s agent, in order that he might explain himself and his actions. Believing the Mayor to be in grave danger, someone sounded the alarm around Chester, which resulted in a large number of heavily armed citizens rushing to the rescue.

Needless to say, a riotous affray broke out in and around the Abbey, resulting in Radington and his men having to flee the city by way of the “Kale Yard” gate at the rear of the Abbey and across the monk’s vegetable gardens.

Furious at the treatment he had been handed, De Radington was said to have returned a few days later with a much larger force of men, determined to avenge his humiliation. Unfortunately for him, his approach had been witnessed by the local authorities and all of the city’s defences were shut against him.   

Brochfael

Brochfael was reputed to be a war-band leader from Powys, who tried to defend the city of Chester from the Northumbrian army of King Aethelfrith. Legend suggests that he was responsible for the safety of the monks from Bangor Isycoed who were praying for a British victory and who were reported killed by the Northumbrians. It was said that Brochfael’s forces were defeated and the Welsh leader only just managed to escape the battle with a small band of his followers. During the “Battle of Chester” around 607 AD a noted member of the Powysian royal family, Selyf ap Cynan, who was the son of Cynan Garwen or “White Shanks” was thought to have been killed during the encounter.

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