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History

Christopher Fulwood - died 1643

Christopher Fulwood was shot by Sir John Gell's Parliamentarian forces while trying to escape capture at Middleton-by-Youlegrave, Derbyshire.

Christopher's activities in the Bakewell, High Peaks area of Derbyshire, caught the interest of King Charles I. As he wrote that Christopher had raised a troop of 1100 Derbyshire Miners as a life-guard for his Majesty. Mustering his troops on Tideswell Moore, Christopher successfully opposed Parliamentarian forces.

This success appears to have alarmed local Roundhead leaders and a detachment of Sir John Gell's men decided to pay Christopher FULWOOD a visit at Fulwood Castle, Middleton-by-Youlegrave, Derbyshire.

On approaching his house, Christopher became aware of the Roundhead troops intentions towards him. It is said that Christopher attempted to make his escape via a secret passage from the Castle which led directly down into the Dale of Bradford.

While hiding behind a large outlying mass of limestone he was shot by Gell's men and mortally wounded. Christopher was probably heading in this direction to make his escape. It appears the Roundhead troops were waiting for him in this area.

His captors attempted to move him to Lichfield, Staffordshire which had been previously taken from the Royalists by Sir John Gell on 5th March 1643. However, Christopher failed to reach Lichfield as he died from his wounds at Calton, Staffordshire on 16th November 1643.

Christopher was Sir George FULLWOOD's son by his first wife Anne and like his father he was a Royalist and a practising barrister of Grays Inn, Holborn, London where he was an Autumn Reader in 1628.

There isn't much left of Fullwood Castle as it was pulled down early in the 18th century. The Castle building materials have now been used in the adjacent Castle Farm House.

Christopher FULLWOOD had two daughters and his death they are said to have fled to London and subsequently died in obscurity. The Fullwood estate was probably confiscated by the Commonwealth, although this information is still to be verified.

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