St George featured in the Wars of the Roses. In 1471, the Battle of Tewkesbury took place, but the widespread slaughter was not confined to around Tewkesbury. Apparently, a handful of Lancastrian soldiers sought refuge in the little church at Didbrook. This was, however, to no avail for they were discovered by the Yorkists, put against the oak door and shot. It is claimed that this is one of the first times that handguns were used in this country.
The Abbot of Hailes Abbey, William Whitchurch, who was also the Rector of St George's at Didbrook, was so distressed at this desecration that he had the church torn down and rebuilt at his own expense.
It is strange, but whether by design or for any other reason the church is unique in that there is neither a north or south door, just a single west door. Much material from the old building must have been used in the new one, since the bullet marks from that day are still in the old oak door, pictured above.
