Author Archives: sparkypus

William Shakespeare @Abdul Rahim One, or two,  of these  may come in useful the next time you find yourself lost for words……. “Villain, I have done thy mother” (Really rude and should only be used in the event you don’t mind your lights being punched out..) Titus Andronicus (Act 4, Scene 2) “You scullion! YouContinue reading “Useful Shakespearean Insults for every Occasion….”

Westminster Hall venue of the King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville’s Coronation Feast. Queen Anne and King Richard from the Rous Roll.  Anne is wearing the Crown of Queen Edith and Richard wears the Crown of St Edward.  And so dear reader, on the 6 July 1483 Richard and Anne were crowned. We doContinue reading “The Coronation Feast of King Richard III and his Queen”

19th century painting of the Henry VII Chapel by an unknown artist.  The entrance to the area where the urn stands is to the left of the tomb of Henry VII Helen Maurer, in her wonderful article, Whodunnit: The Suspects in the Case  mentioned in the notes : ‘As for why the bones should have been discovered moreContinue reading “The Bones in the Urn again!…a 17th Century Hoax?”

Reconstruction of a Medieval Painting from St Stephens Chapel. Possibly Queen Philippa with her daughter.  Ernest William Tristram c.1927.   Worked from original drawings made by the antiquarian Richard Smirke 1800-1811 before the fire of 1834. Society of Antiquities.   Parliamentary Art Collection St Stephen’s was the medieval royal chapel of the Kings and Queens ofContinue reading “St Stephen’s Westminster – Chapel to Kings and Queens”

COWGATE NORWICH, DAVID HODGSON c.1860.  WHITEFRIARS STOOD ON THE EASTERN SIDE BETWEEN THE CHURCH OF ST JAMES POCKTHORPE (SEEN ABOVE) AND THE RIVER A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY..NORWICH MUSEUM On 30 June 1468, died  Eleanor Butler nee Talbot.   Eleanor came from an illustrious family.  Her father was the great John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, herContinue reading “THE CARMELITE FRIARY OF NORWICH KNOWN AS WHITEFRIARS – BURIAL PLACE OF ELEANOR TALBOT”

King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville wearing the crowns of Edward the Confessor and Queen Edith.  The Rous Roll. Edward IV and his consort Elizabeth Wydeville wearing the crowns of  Edward the Confessor and Queen Edith.  Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers.  Lambeth Palace.   The first Coronation Crowns,  known as the crowns of  EdwardContinue reading “THE MEDIEVAL CROWNS OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR AND QUEEN EDITH”

The effigies of Joan Neville and her husband William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel.  On a recent visit to the Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel, I stood transfixed at Joan Neville’s beautiful monument.  Carved from Caen stone.  Joan’s effigy lies next to that of her husband, William Fitzalan Earl of Arundel (1417-1489).  Her head turned toward him, she gazesContinue reading “JOAN NEVILLE, SISTER TO THE KINGMAKER.”

Interior view of the Henry VII Chapel by Giovanni Canaletto.  Henry’s tomb can be seen in the distance with the chapel housing the urn to the left. Lawrence E Tanner Keeper of the Muniments (1926-66)  Librarian, Westminster Abbey Who could blame anyone, after reading Tanner and Wright’s report of their investigation into the infamous bonesContinue reading “‘RECENT INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING THE FATE OF THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER’ by L E Tanner and William Wright 1933”

Austin Friars today.  This section of road covers part of  the perimeter of the Friary.    With thanks to Eric, Londonist.  Austin Friars in London, was founded about 1260 by Humphrey de Bohun 2nd Earl of Hereford and Constable of England d.1275.   It was rebuilt in 1354 by Humphrey de Bohun d.1361, Humphrey’s greatContinue reading “AUSTIN FRIARS: LAST RESTING PLACE OF PERKIN WARBECK”

Richard Duke of Gloucester and Lady Anne, Edwin Austin Abbey, 1896. It’s said a picture can paint a thousand words.  It certainly can but not always accurately.  It can distort the truth.  Art work based on the Ricardian period is certainly true of this.  Take for example the stunning painting, above,  by Edwin Austin Abbey,Continue reading “CAN A PICTURE PAINT A THOUSAND WORDS? RICARDIAN ART”