Monthly Archives: July 2020

Entrance to the tomb of Henry VII as seen on the opening of the vault in 1869.  Drawing by George Scarf.   I cannot say I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I think about Henry VII’s possible reaction to King James being laid to rest alongside he and his wife, Elizabeth of York,  inContinue reading “JAMES Ist – ROYAL GOOSEBERRY IN THE HENRY VII VAULT”

Effigies of Henry Vll and Elizabeth of York by Torrigiano  Henry died on 21 April 1509.  Henry has come down through history as something of a miser, a tightwad.  Whether this is undeserved or otherwise , I do not know,  although his Privy Purse Expenses make very interesting reading.  He certainly enjoyed gambling, frequently incurringContinue reading “Was Henry VII mean? His funeral and other Expenses.”

Edward of Middleham from the Beauchamp Pageant.  Described  as ‘Edward Plantagenet, son to Kyng Richard’ It has been said that,  along  with so many children of the times he lived in, even those of the nobility, not a lot is known about Edward,  the small son of  Richard III and Anne Neville.  It seems, sadly,Continue reading “EDWARD OF MIDDLEHAM ‘SON TO KYNG RICHARD’ & THE MYSTERIOUS SHERIFF HUTTON MONUMENT”

Aveline’s effigy as drawn by Charles Alfred Stothard ‘The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain‘.  Aveline/Avelina de Forz, Countess of Lancaster (1259-1274)  was the first wife of Edmund ‘Crouchback’, first earl of Lancaster, first earl of Leicester and a Plantagenet prince (1245-1296).    Edmund was the son of Henry III and his queen, Eleanor of Provence,Continue reading “AVELINE de FORZ – AN EARLY PLANTAGENET BRIDE & HER TOMB IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.”

In the church of All Saints, Carshalton, now part of South London, can be found the charming 15th century brass of Margaret Gaynesford nee Sidney,  her husband Nicholas and their various children.  Due to the brass being attached to the wall and not the floor, as is usually the case,  it has still retained muchContinue reading “MARGARET GAYNESFORD – GENTLEWOMAN TO QUEEN ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE”

This is said to be a portrait of  Cicely, Mary of York’s sister.  However I believe it could actually be a portrait of Mary.  Originally in the Royal Window, Northwest Transept, Canterbury Cathedral but now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow.  Mary Plantagenet also known as  Mary of York was the second daughter of King EdwardContinue reading “MARY PLANTAGENET – DAUGHTER OF EDWARD IV & ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE – A LIFE CUT SHORT”

CLATTERN BRIDGE Photo @Matt Brown Clattern Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, was built prior to 1293 to replace an even older Saxon bridge and amazingly is still in use today.  A good example of a medieval multi-span bridge and still containing impressive medieval masonry.  The first Saxon bridge, probably built to replace an even older ford,Continue reading “CLATTERN BRIDGE -A MEDIEVAL BRIDGE – KINGSTON UPON THAMES”

On Friday 13th June 1483 Cardinal Morton, along with others, was arrested at the Tower of London.  It is well documented the role Morton played in the downfall of Richard III.  Morton was Richard’s arch enemy and his deviousness, cunning and powers of manipulation being  well known,  there is no need to go into themContinue reading “CARDINAL JOHN MORTON’S TOMB IN THE CHAPEL OF LADY UNDERCROFT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL”

Elizabeth Wydeville, unknown artist, Royal Collection. If anyone today wandering around Bermondsey, South London, should find themselves in redeveloped Bermondsey Square they may be surprised to find that they are standing on the spot where once stood the quadrangle of Bermondsey Abbey, the entrance  to the square being the site of the Abbey gatehouse. VeryContinue reading “BERMONDSEY ABBEY AND ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE’S ‘RETIREMENT’ THERE”