OBJECT FILE
The skull at Wardley Hall (St Ambrose Barlow)
FOLLOWWardley Hall (bishop's residence; visits by arrangement), Worsley, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
THE OBJECT
Human remains. A skull kept in a niche beside the main staircase of Wardley Hall, Worsley, the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Salford. It is held to be that of St Ambrose (Edward) Barlow, a Benedictine priest hanged, drawn and quartered at Lancaster on 10 September 1641, whose head was set on a spike at the Collegiate Church in Manchester; a relative of the Downes family of Wardley is said to have rescued it by night. It was rediscovered in a casket in 1745 when a wall was opened. Forensic tests at St Bartholomew's medical college in 1960 found it to be the skull of a man of Barlow's age and stature, with a spike wound. The Diocese of Salford bought the hall in 1930; Barlow was canonised in 1970.
REPORTED ACTIVITY
Tradition says the skull was once thrown into the moat and violent storms followed until the moat was drained and it was put back, and that misfortune falls on the house whenever it is moved. It was long mistaken for the head of Roger Downes, until his body was exhumed with its head intact.
WHERE IT IS NOW
Private collection — kept by Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. Wardley Hall (bishop's residence; visits by arrangement), Worsley, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.
PROVENANCE · 2 ENTRIES
TRACE ON THE MAP →1641 – 1930
POSSIBLE LOCATIONThe Downes family and later owners of Wardley Hall
Wardley Hall, Worsley, Lancashire, United Kingdom
The rescue is the hall's tradition; the skull is recorded as found in a casket in 1745. From-date is Barlow's execution.
Source: Diocese of Salford, 'Wardley Hall' (a relative 'rescued the skull, by night, and guarded it in a secret place in Wardley Hall'); Wikipedia, Wardley Hall (rediscovered in 1745)
1930 — CURRENT LOCATION
Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford
Wardley Hall, niche beside the main staircase, Worsley, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Source: Wikipedia, Wardley Hall (diocese deal reached 12 May 1930); Diocese of Salford, 'Wardley Hall' ('kept in a niche at the side of the main staircase'; 1960 forensic tests)
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS · 0
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