Somerset’s landscape is rich with stories of England’s monarchs and their turbulent times. From the Monmouth Rebellion to King Alfred’s legendary battles, the county is a living archive of England’s royal past. Among its historical landmarks, from Athelney hillfort to Taunton Castle, one particular legacy stands out—the story of Perkin Warbeck, the notorious pretender who challenged Henry VII’s reign.
Perkin Warbeck’s name endures not only in history books but also everyday life, thanks to the Perkin Warbeck Wetherspoons pub in Taunton, celebrating this fascinating figure. Warbeck emerged in the late 15th century claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York—the younger of the two ‘Princes in the Tower.’ Richard and his brother Edward V, sons of King Edward IV, vanished mysteriously after being declared illegitimate and confined to the Tower of London in 1483. Their disappearance remains one of England’s great historical enigmas.
Seizing on this mystery, Warbeck, a Flemish youth, declared himself the lost Duke in 1490. He claimed to have escaped the Tower while alleging his brother had been murdered. Gathering support from influential European monarchs such as Maximilian I and James IV of Scotland, and even winning the backing of Margaret of York, the princes’ aunt, Warbeck was recognized as “Richard IV” by several courts in Europe.
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Despite these claims, King Henry VII denounced Warbeck as an impostor. Warbeck’s multiple attempts to invade England met with resistance. His most notable incursion was in 1497 when he landed in Cornwall amid local unrest following a recent uprising. Proclaiming he would end burdensome taxes, Warbeck was hailed in Bodmin Moor and assembled a force of about 6,000 men who marched towards Taunton.
However, the confrontation proved unfavorable. Learning that Henry’s general was advancing, Warbeck abandoned his campaign and was soon captured in Hampshire. Henry VII accepted the surrender of the remaining forces in Taunton, with key ringleaders executed.
Warbeck’s imprisonment began in Taunton before he was moved to the Tower of London, where public humiliation awaited him. Though treated with leniency after admitting his fraud, he was closely guarded, separated from his wife, and after failed escape attempts, executed in 1499 at Tyburn.
Today, the Perkin Warbeck Wetherspoons pub on East Street in Taunton commemorates this captivating episode of English history. It stands as a tribute to Somerset’s significant role in the drama of royal succession, reminding visitors and locals alike of the enduring intrigue surrounding one of England’s most audacious pretenders.