Priest uncovers more history about Formby family past

TIMES Past is plunging in to the Middle Ages this week, with Father Geoghegan of Herbert House.

Parishioners of St Luke's Church in Formby will be familiar with the headstone of Richard Formby, which lies in the entrance to the church.

It arrived in 1840, after it was damaged in a fire at York Minster.

Father Geoghegan, who is a retired missionary priest, was sufficiently interested in it to visit York Minster last summer.

He searched for the original grave, and plou ghed through the Minster's formidable archive, to find out a little more about Richard Formby.

Richard was famous for being an armourer to King Henry IV.

Father Geoghegan established that he died on September 26, 1407, of the plague. It also seems that Richard was something of a celebrity, and famed for his height, strength and fighting ability.

In 2003 a poem was written in tribute to Richard by David Davies, as part of the Formby Hall Project. The final three stanzas read:

"When he died, Henry honoured his famous 'armiger',

And buried him with all ceremony in famous York Minster.

But his tomb-stone was cracked in the great Minster fire,

And now rests in Saint Luke's church not far from the choir.

And if ever you go there on a warm summer's night

When bats wing the air and owls give a fright

You may glimpse a dark figure among the tall trees

And hear a faint chuckle borne aloft on the breeze

Tis the ghost of our Richard walking forth in the pines

And thinking of King Henry in those far distant times.

So be not afraid when you see him pass by

He'll just give you a wink and a long drawn-out sigh."

Have you ever done any research on this headstone or know of other details about it? Or have you any more modern memories about Formby and its churches? Contact Tom Duffy at Times Past by phoning 872237, writing to Times Past, Formby Times, 17 Elbow Lane, Formby L37 4AD, or emailing newsdesk@formbytimes.co.uk