Voices from the Walls – Richmond Castle’s Conscientious Objectors

Beside Richmond Castle’s imposing Norman keep lies an unassuming military cell block with an extraordinary secret. Its fragile walls are inscribed with thousands of graffiti, many of them left by conscientious objectors detained there during the First World War. These were men from all walks of life, united by one belief: that war was wrong.

In this episode Josie Long meets historian Megan Leyland and curator Kevin Booth at Richmond Castle to discover some of the conscientious objectors’ stories. We hear from Ruth Ecuyer about a wedding march written especially for her by John Brocklesby, one of the conscientious objectors known as the Richmond Sixteen. And volunteer Carol Chappell and Judith Ellis share newly researched letters between conscientious objector James Burchell and his employer, Edith Ellis.

Visit our episode page to find out more.

Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.

Presenter: Josie Long

Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air

Contributors: Megan Leyland, Historian; Kevin Booth, Properties Curator; Ruth Ecuyer, daughter of a WWI conscientious objector; Judith Ellis, great-niece of Edith Ellis of Wrea Head; Carol Chappell, English Heritage volunteer on the Richmond Castle Cell Block Project.

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