Bolton martyr burned at the stake

A Protestant, Marsh had refused to become a Catholic, and was denounced as a heretic and became Bolton's first and only martyr, 453 years ago on April 24. Wes Wright reports. . .

PROTESTANT martyr George Marsh died a horrible painful death - but he faced his end with great bravery.

As flames licked around his feet and legs and hot tar dripped on his head from a barrel above, he let out an anguished cry: "Father of heaven, have mercy on me!"

Even as he was led to his funeral pyre in Broughton, Chester, 453 years ago, he was offered a pardon if he recanted his Protestantism and returned to the Catholic faith.

But he refused and went calmly to his slow and agonising death, praying and reading from his Bible.

The events that led to his death began the previous year when he gave himself up and was taken to Smithills Hall for interrogation.

Marsh was brought before Justice Robert Barton, who lived at Smithills Hall, and was asked to explain his heretical beliefs.

Despite many questions, he refused to accept the authority of the Church of Rome and stuck doggedly to his Protestant creed.

The room where he was interrogated is now known as the George Marsh Room but is only rarely open to the public because of health and safety regulations.

After leaving the room, Marsh was said to be so angry that he stamped his foot so hard that it left an imprint on the stone flag at the foot of the steps.

It is said that the Barton family later threw the flag with the footprint into a nearby stream.

But this caused such disturbing poltergeist activity that it was retrieved and put back in its place.

Most schoolchildren in Bolton have learned about George Marsh, how he became one of Bloody Queen Mary's many victims, and how his "footprint" can still be seen today.

Legend has it that the footprint - which is now protected by a metal grille - is said to become bloody on the day of his anniversary.

This year, Bolton Council's museums service, which is responsible for running Smithills Hall, is planning a tour and talk by guide Clive Walsh to mark the 453rd anniversary of his death.

Mr Walsh has been a part-time guide at Smithills Hall for the past 10 years since he retired from the motor trade.

He said: "I will be doing a slide show and a talk about the life of George Marsh, from his birth in Deane, his marriage and his studying the Bible at Christ's College in Cambridge.

"When he was 25 his wife died in labour and soon afterwards he did a strange thing - he went off to study at Cambridge leaving his three children in the care of his mother and father.

"The Marshs were quite a well-off family. George's father owned a farm and bought his son the farm next to it.

"The family also owned Marsh's toll bridge which people obviously had to pay to cross.

"George Marsh was an amazing speaker and in a time when whole church services were conducted in Latin his sermons in English were a revelation to the congregations, most of whom couldn't read or write, let alone understand Latin.

"They flocked from miles around to hear him. Even when he was in jail in Chester, he was allowed to preach and often there would be crowds of 300 people outside the prison listening to him preaching from behind the bars.

"He was a bit like the Billy Graham of his day and he was feted by everyone."

The story of George Marsh, his footprint and his horrible death has travelled further afield than Bolton.

Smithills Hall museums officer Danielle Hughes said many of the visitors wanted to see George Marsh's footprint.

"Every day, people ring up and inquire about the footprint - this is what draws people in to see the hall. They want to know the story of the first martyr from Bolton.

"It's very important to the history of Smithills Hall and he spent his time here being interrogated by Justice Barton.

"The ghost of George Marsh is said to wander the house.

"Some people claim to have seen a man in a black cloak and once, when I was locking up and I knew there was no-one here, I heard a woman and children.

"I couldn't tell what they were saying as it was a bit muffled."

George Marsh's lifeGeorge Marsh was born in Deane, Bolton in 1515.

He came from yeoman stock - a yeoman being a small, independent landholder and cultivator - either at Broadgate Farm, Rumworth, or more likely at Marsh Fold in Halliwell.

He was educated at Bolton Grammar School.

He became a farmer and married in the 1540s.

After his wife died he left Bolton to study religion at Cambridge University, leaving his children in the care of his mother.

Fellow Cambridge students James and Leonard Pilkington, sons of the Lord of the Manor of Rivington, were active Protestants, and leading debaters.

They were forced to sail for Europe to escape persecution, as did Thomas, Ralph and John Lever, of Darcy Lever.

All were Cambridge men, and Thomas Lever was one of the most famous and passionate of the Protestant Reformers.

George Marsh graduated from Cambridge in 1551 or 1552, and became a curate, then a deacon, and then a priest.

He preached in London and Leicestershire, but never in Bolton.

In 1898, a monument was put up near the site of his execution in Broughton, Chester.

Flowers are placed there on April 24 each year.

His ashes were buried in nearby St Giles church.