|
Urn marks the spot where baronet
died
October
31, 2003
HOBART SQUARE
(Hall Road)
 |
| The swashbuckling
Sir Henry Hobart. |
STANDING in an enclosure at Cawston is an urn known
as the Duel Stone — it marks the spot where, on
a summer morning in 1698, swashbuckling swordsman Sir
Henry Hobart of Blickling Hall lost his life.
Sir Henry, a powerful and hot tempered man, had challenged
mild mannered Oliver Le Neve of Great Witchingham Hall
to a duel.
It was believed that the peaceful squire stood no chance
against the bold baronet.
But it was Oliver who foxed the knight with his “southpaw”
stance — and as a result he met his maker.
The quarrel between the two men came at a time of mounting
crisis for Henry who had become baronet in 1683 and
carried on his father’s tradition of playing a
prominent and tempestuous part in Norwich and Norfolk
politics.
The years of political activity put a strain on the
family exchequer and Sir Henry was forced to sell off
part of his lands.
The election of 1698 was a disaster for many prominent
Whig members, including Sir Henry, and to make matters
worse he heard that Oliver Le Neve was spreading a rumour
that he had lost the election because he had shown cowardice
while serving in Ireland for King William.
COWARDICE!
 |
| The Duel Stone
at Cawston which marks the spot where the fight
between Sir Henry and Oliver took place in 1698. |
Nobody called Sir Henry a coward. He was furious and
challenged Oliver to a duel. He sent a denial and historians
now believe these rumours had been stirred up by troublemakers.
But Henry was beside himself with rage. He rode to Reepham
and repeated his challenge in public. Oliver had no
alternative but to accept it.
When they met on Cawston Heath Oliver must have felt
a doomed man. He was an awkward left-handed swordsman,
no match for Henry’s skill.
Little is known of the duel itself except that Oliver
was wounded in the right arm. He switched his sword
to his left and ran his opponent through the stomach.
Sir Henry, who had been Steward of Norwich, MP, Attorney-General
and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, died at Blickling
the next day.
This put Oliver in a difficult position. He faced a
murder charge.
Lady Hobart was seeking revenge. She offered £500
for his capture, so he fled to Holland where he was
joined by his wife Jane.
A few years later he returned to England. He stood trial
and was acquitted.
There were those who believed Oliver, who never wanted
to fight, acted with dignity and restraint throughout
the whole incident.
The urn was installed in the mid-18th century, marking
the place where Henry fought his last fight.
What's in a Name homepage
|