Reflections on Aristrocracy

Sledmere House (unsurprisingly in the village of Sledmere, Yorkshire Wolds) is the home of several generations of the Sykes family. This photo was taken in the Catholic chapel built alongside the house and the motto reads 'To Conquer or Die'.

The Sykes family have had a huge influence on the surrounding villages as the estate included a number of farms and the village was moved and re-built in a distinctive style which is most attractive, they were also responsible for building and renovating numerous local churches in the area.

Sir Mark Sykes was responsible for the creation of 'The Waggoners' a regiment of 1,200 men from the local area who went to France at the beginning of WW1 to drive the waggons and horses in support of the war effort.