Blackburn author puts novel twist on Clitheroe Castle (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn author puts novel twist on Clitheroe Castle

10:00pm Sunday 18th July 2010

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AN author has delved into the the history of Clitheroe Castle for her new novel.

Elizabeth Ashworth, who lives in the Oakdale Estate, Blackburn, decided to pen the fictional novel The de Lacy Inheritance after becoming intrigued with the history of the town.

The mother-of-one, who also works as a supply teacher in schools across East Lancashire, said: “I was putting together a non-fiction book called Tales of Old Lancashire and one of the old stories that I found was a brief mention of a hermit Richard Fitz-Eustace who had lived in a cave under Clitheroe Castle.

“Further research revealed that he had been a member of the de Lacy family and was shunned because he was a leper.

“I was fascinated, the story of Richard would not leave me alone and before long I was compelled to find out more.

“I needed to get to know this man who had fought on crusade with Richard the Lionheart and who had lost everything, home, family and fortune, because of it.”

The historical novel, set in the castle, tells the story of how the De Lacy inheritance passed from Robert de Lacy, who built the castle, to his relative Roger de Lacy without being given to Richard Fitz-Eustace who was next in line.

Ms Ashworth said: “Much of the book is set in and around Clitheroe Castle which belonged to the de Lacy family.

“They were the Norman overlords of much of the north of England and although the family rose to be one of the most influential at court in the 14th century, the deaths of two male heirs and the execution of Thomas of Lancaster meant that the family more or less disappeared.

"I have also explored the attitudes of people towards disease.

"In medieval times illness was often viewed as a punishment for sin and I began to wonder what sins Richard had thought that he had committed to deserve such a fate.”

Ms Ashworth has published work includes several books about Lan cashire local history, including Champion Lancastrians, Tales of Old Lancashire and Lancashire: Who Lies Beneath?

She is currently writing a companion novel to The de Lacy Inheritance entitled The Heiress of Hornby, set during the Wars of the Roses.

l The De Lacy Inheritance, by Elizabeth Asworth, published by Myrmidon, priced £7.99.

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