The Company of Saint Joseph

The Company was formed as the result of a group of friends wanting to expand their Living History hobby, or in some cases "passion" into new avenues. All our members are experienced re-enactors, who have covered many periods in history from the Dark Ages, through Medieval and Tudor to World War II. We all belong to other societies, but felt a common need to improve and develop our skills through new challenges and events.

We chose the name Company of Saint Joseph as Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters, craftsmen and other artisans, and we place a great deal of emphasis on displaying crafts and skills from the past.

Saint Joseph is popularly represented by a lily and this is why the Company has adopted the lily as its badge.

Sir James Tyrell

For larger scale medieval events, where we fight as a household, alongside other groups, such as at Tewkesbury and Bosworth, the Company has adopted the identity of retainers of Sir James Tyrell. Tyrell was a staunch Yorkist and loyal servent of Richard of Gloucester, who subsequently became Richard III of England.

Born about 1445 in Gipping, Suffolk, James Tyrell spent some time serving the Duke of Suffolk, John de la Pole, in minor roles. He fought for the Yorksit cause at the battle of Tewkesbury and was knighted on the field by King Edward IV.

When Richard became king he granted Tyrell a number of offices, such as Captain of the King's Henchmen, Constable of Wales and Captain of Guisnes Castle in Calais, England's last foothold in France.

Tyrell was at Guisnes when Richard fell at Bosworth, but was subsequently pardoned by Henry Tudor and allowed to maintain his position as Captain of Guisnes.

Tyrell became a trusted servant of the Tudor monarchy, until he sheltered Edmund de la Pole, the last Yorkist claimant to the throne, when he fled form England in 1502. The Castle was beseiged by Henry and de la Pole and Tyrell were captured and convicted of treason.

Sir James Tyrell was executed on Tower Hill in 1502.

It is claimed that, under torture, he confessed to the muder of the Princes in the Tower. Whether under Richard's order, or Henry Tudor's is not clear, and the claim has been discredited due to the untrustowrthy nature and inaccuracies of Cardinal Wolsely's reports. However, it is likely Tyrell knew the truth of the matter, and he probalby sheltered the Princes and their mother for some time on his estates. The truth will probably never be known.

Meanwhile, The Company of Saint Joseph will bear James Tyrell's colours on the field, in honour of a true Yorkist nobleman.