22/04/2026
Thursday 23rd April 2026
St George' Day
To celebrate the Feast Day of St George, the patron Saint of England, we will fly the St George's flag, our national flag for England, from the Keep of Middleham Castle throughout the day.
But who was St George? And what is his connection to England?
George of Lydda was a Roman soldier who served under the Emperor Diocletian in the 3rd century. Diocletian undertook a pogrom whereby he banned Christianity and persecuted those who would not change their faith. Soldier George refused to take part in this progrom and further refused to renounce his Christian faith. For this refusal, he was publicly beheaded outside the walls of Nicodemia, a Greek city in a place that is now within Turkiye. He was soon recognised as a Great Martyr by the Eastern Church. His fame as a martyr spread rapidly and he was canonised, becoming known as Saint George. Many churches were built in his honour. He was seen to represent faith, courage and honour.
The dragon slaying legend came much later, probably in mediaeval times, and represents the triumph of good over evil.
Some English Kings adopted his symbol of a red cross on a white background but it did not become the national flag of England until the 16th Century. However, it was used as a heraldic symbol before then, including in the badge and pendant of the Order of the Garter - this is the highest English order of chivalry, founded by King Edward III in 1348.
A number of other countries, cities and states also hold St George as their patron saint, including Venice, Genoa, Portugal, Catalonia, Ethiopia.
King Henry V invoked St George as the protector of armies. In his famous speech before the Battle of Harfleur, Normandy, penned by Shakespeare, he cries "God for Harry, England and St George!" But Henry Vs army went through a miserable campaign, dogged by dysentery and mishaps. However, they eventually triumphed at the Battle of Azincourt in 1415, overcoming the French army partly through clever tactics and through the skills of the English Longbowmen. To this day, the town of Middleham is very actively twinned with the community of Azincourt - on rather friendlier terms these days!
In 1940, King George V created a new order of valour, the George Cross, which contains the image of St George slaying the dragon. This award is still made for exceptional acts of bravery.
This Thursday, St George's Day, will be a special day to visit Middleham Castle to find out more about England's history here in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. This castle and its occupants have played their parts in this country's story, especially our most famous and Royal occupant, Richard Plantaganet, who became King Richard III of England. Richard's personal pennant included the flag of St George and can be seen here. On special dates it flies above our Keep. You can walk within the walls of Richard's favourite residence, see the views he saw from the Castle Keep and imagine life as it would have been in this grand royal residence.
Make it a St George's Day in Middleham to remember!
