-When the Romans left Britain in the year 410, Elmet, a stretch of wild, hilly country, covering approximately the present West Riding of Yorkshire, emerged into the light of history as a small British kingdom. If, as is believed, Barwick was the capital or chief stronghold, it was also the seat of government of the last of the British kings. For fully a hundred years Elmet barred the progress of the invading Engle but about the year 625 Edwin invaded and conquered Elmet - the attack was almost certainly delivered at Barwick. Thus the independence of British Elmet was lost and it became part of the greater English North-umbria.

Elmet was a Christian country at the time of its conquest. The faith had probably been brought to Britain from Gaul in the second century, if not earlier, but its history during the Roman occupation is very dimly known. Edwin was converted and baptised in 627 - the two years since the conquest were probably not long enough for Elmet to have fallen into paganism. Thus it seems we have good reason for believing that from the days of its first conversion, the district never lost its faith.

CHRISTIANITY VERSUS PAGANISM

Nearly thirty years alter Edwin's conquest, this district was the scene of the last great conflict between Christianity and paganism - a fitting reward, perhaps, for Elmet's constancy to Christianity. It was here that Oswy destroyed the army of Penda at what is known as winwaedfield. This Penda, king of Mercia, had in 633 slain Edwin and for some years in the disorder which ensued, the work of higher civilisation had been pushed back. Osric the heathen reigned a year and was killed; Oswald (whose figure in mosaic can be seen in St. John's Church) restored Christianity only to be slain in his turn by Penda. Oswy a Christian succeed-ed and ruled in the northern part of the kingdom. Step by step he won back the whole of his kingdom until he completely restored the old order. Then Penda moved against him. Osmy, after vainly attempting to restore peace by liberal offers, advanced with a chosen band of warriors to meet the pagan chief. Thoresby in his survey of the parish of Gipton, records that he found an ancient fortification which he supposed to have been the camp of prince Odiwald of Deira, at first an ally of Penda, but who later changed sides. Others suggest it may have been Oswy's encampment.

The battle was fought on the 15th November 655 on the banks of the river "Vinwed" or "Winwaed" near to Leeds. The actual site has been considered uncertain but Bede says it was in the country of Loidis, and Winmoor preserves in its name the recollection of a great battle. (Anglo-saxon Winnan - to fight or struggle; mor - a moor). The power of paganism received its death-blow, when Penda, who, for fifty years had been the cause of so much misery and suffering, lay with thirty of his vassal chiefs and thousands of his army slain, their blood changing the waters of the litte rivulet to crimson. Towards the upper reaches of the Cock Beck where it crosses the York Road, the stream is known as Grimes Dyke, and people are said to have associated the name Grimes with the discolouring of the water by the bodies of the slain. The name is preserved to-day with the opening of the new Grimes Dyke Primary School on the Whinmoor housing estate. Soon after the victory, Oswy sent his daughter Ethelfleda to the monastery of St. Hild at Whitby, and endowed seven monasteries in his realm.