Sunday 30 October 2016

St Mary's Butts



I visited St Mary's Church in Reading the other day for my blog and while talking to the lady's selling charity Christmas Cards mentions the Butts and told them the story behid the name, I was supprised when they told me they never knew of it, told them the meaning behind the name. So just in case you are wondering if I am talking about another kind of butt here is what it really means. The  Information comes from Wikipedia
 "In the Middle Ages, Edward IV made it compulsory for all yeomen in England to learn archery. An archery butts was set up on the land in front of the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin. It was used by the adult males of Reading to practice on Sundays. Some of the archers who fought at the Battle of Agincourt trained at St Mary's Butts. In 1631 the town paid £3 to have the archery grounds closed."

When I came out of the church I noticed a mural on the base of a  CCTV pole showing Archers


 Round the otherside were two more


And across the road on a communications box the Achery Butt 


So if you go to Reading and find yourself in St Mary's Butts you know the story behind the name 
Taking Part in Monday Mural

16 comments:

  1. A new one on me.Very informative post Bill.

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  2. Great story and I'm sure the ladies at the church appreciated it too.

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  3. A funny painting specially with the other target to it.

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  4. How cool is this story and the murals.

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  5. I've learned something new today! Thank you!

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  6. Hi Bill, I try to learn something new everyday and, with your post here, you've taken care of me very early on a Monday morning! Thanks Bill!

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  7. I love learning something new! This is such an interesting bit of history.

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  8. These archers seem rather suspicious of each other!

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  9. Gostei destes grafites estão muito originais.
    Um abraço e boa semana.
    Andarilhar

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  10. The Archers of Reading. That was fun to learn. Thanks!

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  11. Neat pictures! I learned something today. Thanks.

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  12. The very yeomen you were talking about! Thanks for contributing to this week's Monday Mural.

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