Author Archives: sparkypus

The Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York and The Wardrobe Accounts of Edward the Fourth Edited by Nicolas Harris Nicolas Esq As demonstrated by my earlier posts on the subject I enjoy nothing more than a delve around privy purse/wardrobe expenses.  This may be partly due to my naturally nosy nature but also becauseContinue reading “Edward IV – A King of Bling’s Wardrobe Accounts”

Edward’s IV Monument in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Back in 2016 I was much intrigued by a story which had been hanging around for some time that mentioned when Edward IV’s vault and coffin were discovered in 1790 in St George’s Chapel, an adjoining vault was also discovered,  which at the time was speculated mayContinue reading “Those mysterious childrens coffins in Edward IV’s vault….”

The Great Fire of London. The devastating conflagration that consumed so much of medieval London including St James Garlickhythe.  Artist  Lieve Verschuier This post will of necessity prove to be short there being a dearth of information on both Katherine and the  pre-Fire St James Garlickhythe Church where she was buried.  The church was located onContinue reading “Katherine Plantagenet, her burial in St James Garlickhithe.”

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 , but its likely they were very similar in looks.  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 Edward IVContinue 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”