Keskerdh Kernow 500 Picture Gallery

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The 1497 rebellion in Cornwall was based around a tax demand. In January 1497, Parliament voted for a tax to finance the campaign against James IV and Perkin Warbeck. The Cornish refused to contribute to a tax that was to pay for a campaign in the north and which, to them, had no impact on Cornwall. Led by Joseph (An Gof) and Flammock, the rebels set out from Bodmin in May 1497. They marched east and gained their recognised leader, the impoverished Lord Audley, at Wells. On June 16th, the rebels reached the outskirts of London and 15,000 of them camped on Blackheath. Henry VII had sent an army north for the anticipated clash with James IV. However, he recalled it back to London.
The king’s army, led by Lord Daubeney, had little trouble beating the rebels who though large in number were effectively leaderless. It is thought that about 1,000 of the rebels were killed at the so-called Battle of Blackheath. Some were taken prisoner but many of the rebels simply fled. Michael An Gof and Thomas Flamank were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, whilst Lord Audley, being of the nobility was beheaded.
In 1997 500 Keskerdh Kernow walkers walked through Cornwall on their way Blackheath, to commemorate the Quincentennial—500th anniversary—of the Cornish Rebellion. Here are 40 photos as they passed through Launceston on the 31st of May.

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