Black Dick's Temple | The Legend of Sir Richard Beaumont | Nomadic Knightmares Episode 1

Nestled atop the moors of Upper Whitley in Mirfield stands a somewhat run down Grade II listed folly dating back to the mid 1750s. The folly is attributed to a James Payne and stands in a grounds once landscaped by none other than Capability Brown. Octagonal in shape with its squared off cornerstones and ornate arches on four sides, the structure stands as a relict of a forgotton time. It is believed to have been used as a summerhouse and stood in the grounds of the once large Whitley Estate owned by the Beaumont family. This family's heritage can be traced back directly to the Norman Conquest of William the Conqueror and this estate was handed to the Beaumont's through the De Laci family for the Beamonts' part played in the Third Crusade.

The legend of Sir Richard 'Black Dick' Beaumont is an interesting one in as much as nobody knows quite where it came from. What is known about Richard is that lived from (1574-1631), was the son of Edward Beaumont and Elizabeth Ramsden, and happened to be first cousin to Elizabeth I. Richard was knighted by King James I in 1609 and in 1615 stood as Justice of the Peace for the County of York based at Pontefract. He commanded a batallion of troops based at Kirkheaton and became a treasurer on behalf of a group of disabled soldiers. In 1625 he was a Member of Parliament for Pontefract and in 1628, was made Baronet of Whitley by Charles I. His estates included Sandal Castle near Wakefield. He founded Kirkheaton Grammar School in 1610, with Reverend Stock and when he died in 1631, he was interred in the Beaumont Chapel in Kirkheaton Church, where his wonderfully elaborate tomb can still be seen. Although he died unmarried, he had two illegitimate daughters, Isabella Lees and Isabella Bromswood.

What is less clear is why he was given the name 'Black Dick of the North.' Some believe because of his jet black hair and beard, others believe because of his dark doings, womanising, gambling, bad dealings while some even suggest he was an active highwayman. Other rumours suggest that he was guilty of the murder of a servant girl he had made pregnant and some believe he partook in dark arts at the folly itself.

The folkloric legend that has attached itself to the Temple is that Sir Richard through is gambling and bad debts was slain in a duel and the headless ghost of Richard is said to haunt this location every July 5th. But there are actually some gaping holes in this legend.

1) Sir Richard died in 1631 and the folly was built by Mr Payne in 1752.
2) Some suggest the legend has been conjured and mixed with the legend of the Elland Feud where a Robert de Beaumont was beheaded by John de Ealand in 1341 at Crossland Moor.
3) Sir Richard is known to have died on 20th of October 1631 and not 5th of July.

Music
Music used : " The Abandoned " composed and produced by "Vivek Abhishek"
Music link : https://youtu.be/Co0VTwQyzNg

Music used : “Piano Horror” composed by MDA Music
Music link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUf6n8eeENg&list=LL&index=47

History thank you to: Andy Hemmingway
https://andyhemingway.wordpress.com/category/black-dicks-tower/

History thank you to: Kai Roberts for his novel Haunted Huddersfield
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-Huddersfield-Kai-Roberts/dp/0752467905/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=haunted+huddersfield&qid=1625509458&sr=8-1

History thank you to: Dave Pattern and the team at Huddersfield Exposed
https://huddersfield.exposed/wiki/Welcome

Thank you to the Haunted Finders team and their app Spirit Talker
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SpottedGhosts.SpiritTalker&hl=en_GB&gl=US

Thank you to Steve Huff and his app The Miracle Box
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Chillseekers.MiracleBox&hl=en_GB&gl=US

Flickr thank you to James
https://www.flickr.com/photos/urban_outlaw/2828420308

Music used : “Broken Soul” composed by Marc V/D Meulen
Music link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-C6HY-tGEY&list=LL&index=55&t=61s

My Gear:
Camera: Sony ZV-1
Microphone: Rode Video Micro
Neewer Camera Bag
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Sapphire
S-Box Spirit Box
K2 Electromagnetic Field EMF Meter Radiation Detector

Thank you for watching Nomadic Knightmares