A Bat's Eye View — Stop 1
Bugler Bat At St George's
Bugler Bat was dangling from the Lych Gate at St George’s Church thinking about his old friend John Whitworth.
Illustration by children of St George’s School
John had been a brave soldier and with Bugler had been on many adventures during the Peninsular and Pyrenees Wars. Between 1815 to 1825 John blew his bugle and beat his drum. Bugler would stay hidden in his hat and John reckoned that his good fortune was down to having a lucky bat in his hat!
Together they had travelled to battles all over the world including Aldi-de-Pont, Martinique, St Sebastian and Salamanca. John was extremely daring and the British had won a great battle because John had blown his bugle to advance, despite having orders to sound retreat.
He’d been awarded many medals and when he died of old age he was buried in the Chapel at St George’s with great honour. Bugler had lived in the Chapel until it was pulled down.
Now he was living in the eaves of St George’s Lych Gate. This too honoured brave soldiers from World War I, who had died in battle. Sadly they hadn’t lived long lives like John Whitworth.
Bugler wondered if it was because they didn’t have lucky bats in their hats….
The original chapel on this site was built in 1755 and cost £600 to build.
The chapel was demolished in 1885 after the new church had been built.