Author Archives: sparkypus

Henry VII and his children in mourning for Elizabeth of York.  An idealised presentation of Henry, his children ,  Margaret and Mary  sitting in front of the fire while a young Henry jnr weeps into his mother’s empty bed.  From the Vaux Passional, a 15th century manuscript. Elizabeth gave birth to her son Arthur on the 20 SeptemberContinue reading “Elizabeth of York – Her Privy Purse Expenses”

The graceful effigy of Blanche Mortimer atop her tomb.  St Bartholomew,  Much Marcle. In the chancel of the church of St Bartholomew,  Much Marcle, Herefordshire can be found one of the most beautiful tombs chests in England, that of Blanche Mortimer, Lady Grandison.  I happened by chance on this lovely monument  some years ago.  I stoodContinue reading “THE TOMB OF BLANCHE MORTIMER, LADY GRANDISON”

ENGLAND’S OLDEST DOOR – TO BE FOUND IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY OPENING ON TO THE CHAPTER HOUSE.   Are doors not fascinating?   If somewhere you haven’t been before, do you like me, always wonder what’s on the other side?  Of course if the door is ancient even more so.  The above is the oldest doorContinue reading “THE ANCIENT DOORS OF OLD ENGLAND”

Henry VIII, known as the Hamilton Portrait and once owned by the Duke of Hamilton, this portrait used to be at  Holyroodhouse.  Philip Mould. The deaths of all three Tudor kings were protracted and wretched.  Whether this was down to Karma, bad luck (or good luck depending on what way you look at it) orContinue reading “THE DEATH OF HENRY VIII”

No doubt archaeologists thought that all their Christmases’  had arrived at once when they first heard the breaking news of the building of Crossrail,  Europe’s largest infrastructure which will be called the Elizabeth Line (and hopefully up and running in the first half of 2022)  and the exceptional opportunities the excavations would bring. However, did theyContinue reading “CROSSRAIL – A PORTAL INTO MEDIEVAL LONDON”

Henry VII on his deathbed – Wriothesley’s Heraldic Collection Vol I Book of Funerals And so, on 21 April 1509, Henry Tudor finally expired.  He had been ill, obviously, for some time and perhaps his death was something of a relief to him. I’m sure it was for the rest of the country who probablyContinue reading “THE DEATH OF HENRY VII”

St Erasmus in Bishops Islip’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey by Joseph Mallord William Turner c.1796.  The  original chapel of St Erasmus, built by Elizabeth Wydeville,  was the site of Anne Mowbray’s first burial and after recovery of her coffin she was reburied in the rebuilt Chapel.   Anne Mowbray, Duchess of Norfolk, was born in FramlinghamContinue reading “ANNE MOWBRAY DUCHESS OF NORFOLK. CHILD BRIDE OF RICHARD OF SHREWSBURY – ONE OF THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER – HER REBURIAL IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.”

Old London Bridge from Southwark c.1630.  Unknown artist. Old London Bridge. Claude de Jongh There had been many manifestations of the bridge prior to this particular one, among them a  wooden one which had been brought down by a tornado in 1091, but it is this particular one most people think of when Old LondonContinue reading “OLD LONDON BRIDGE – A MEDIEVAL WONDER!”