The Cheapside Hoard. Discovered beneath the floor of an ancient cellar during the demolition of 30-32 Cheapside in 1912. How the owners of such jewels must have shimmered in the candlelight. Photo 1websurfer@Flikr. The Cheapside Hoard as it has become known was discovered in June 1912 at 30-32 Cheapside when workmen were demolishing a trioContinue reading “THE MYSTERIOUS CHEAPSIDE HOARD, DISCOVERY AND FURTHER ADVENTURES….”
Author Archives: sparkypus
SIR PAUL PINDAR c.1565-1650. AND HIS HOUSE IN BISHOPSGATE
The façade of Sir Paul Pindar’s house in Bishopgate. Now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo Victoria and Albert Museum Collection Sir Paul Pindar acquired the site in what was then known as Bishopsgate Street Without in 1597 and begun building the house, later known as Pindar’s House, shortly afterward at the corner of HalfContinue reading “SIR PAUL PINDAR c.1565-1650. AND HIS HOUSE IN BISHOPSGATE”
RICHARD WHITTINGTON c.1350-1423. MERCER, MAYOR AND A MOST BENEVOLENT CITIZEN OF LONDON
A delightful artist’s impression of ‘Richard Whittington dispensing his charities’. Artist Henrietta Ray before 1905 oil on canvas. Royal Exchange, London. Even the most disinterested in history children would recognise the name ‘Dick Whittington’ and also his best, and only friend, his cat, most of them being familiar with the rather delightful folk story, which dates backContinue reading “RICHARD WHITTINGTON c.1350-1423. MERCER, MAYOR AND A MOST BENEVOLENT CITIZEN OF LONDON”
SIR THOMAS BURGH c.1430-1496 AND GAINSBOROUGH OLD HALL
Gainsborough Old Hall. Photo thanks to Graham Oxford Photography Street. Sir Thomas Burgh was the builder of Gainsborough Hall, as seen today, after inheriting the original building in 1455 on the death of his mother Elizabeth Percy, when he was 24 years old. The building and enhancement, which took place over the course of 20Continue reading “SIR THOMAS BURGH c.1430-1496 AND GAINSBOROUGH OLD HALL”
Coldharbour – An Important Medieval London House
A segment of the Visscher Panorama of London 1616 showing Coldharbour after the earlier medieval house had been demolished by the Earl of Shrewsbury c.1585 and rebuilt up to the waterfront. The rebuild incorporated many tenements ‘now letten out for great rents to people of all sorts’ (Stow). Image Peter Harrington Rare Books. FurtherContinue reading “Coldharbour – An Important Medieval London House”
CROSSBONES – BURIAL PLACE OF WINCHESTER GEESE AND ‘THE OUTCAST DEAD’ – SOUTHWARK, LONDON.
Shrine of many ribbons at the entrance to Crossbones Cemetery. Photo Kay Nicols. It’s harder to find a more sadder place in South London than the site of Crossbones Burial Ground, Redcross Way, which is a side street tucked away off the busy Borough High Street, South London. It’s safe to say that manyContinue reading “CROSSBONES – BURIAL PLACE OF WINCHESTER GEESE AND ‘THE OUTCAST DEAD’ – SOUTHWARK, LONDON.”
RALPH NEVILLE, 2ND EARL OF WESTMORLAND – HIS HOME, BRANCEPETH CASTLE AND BURIAL IN BRANCEPETH CHURCH.
Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland c.1406-1484 and one of his wives. Fine oak effigy once in Brancepeth Church, County Durham. Destroyed 1998. Drawn by Charles Stothard c.1815. An interesting life if somewhat tinged by tragedy. Ralph Neville 2nd Earl of Westmorland, born at Cockermouth in Cumbria (c.1406-1485) was the son of Lord JohnContinue reading “RALPH NEVILLE, 2ND EARL OF WESTMORLAND – HIS HOME, BRANCEPETH CASTLE AND BURIAL IN BRANCEPETH CHURCH.”
STAINDROP CHURCH – A NEVILLE MAUSOLEUM
Ralph Neville Earl of Westmorland and his two wives. Staindrop Church, Durham. Ralph Neville by his wife Joan Beaufort, was the father of Cicely Neville, mother of two kings – Edward IV and Richard III. This drawing was made by Charles A Stothard c.1811 and shows them minus the graffiti. In the village ofContinue reading “STAINDROP CHURCH – A NEVILLE MAUSOLEUM”
The Mysterious Disappearance of Henry Pole the Younger in the Tower of London
Picture this…a young lad of about thirteen or thereabouts. Royal Plantagenet blood coursing through his veins. His father is dead and no longer able to neither protect nor save him. His mother is also no longer around to help or comfort him. Life has changed for him overnight and will never be theContinue reading “The Mysterious Disappearance of Henry Pole the Younger in the Tower of London”
L’Erber – London Home to Warwick the Kingmaker and George Duke of Clarence
London before the Great Fire and much as Richard Neville ‘The Kingmaker’ and his family would have known it… L’Erber stood slightly to the north west of Coldharbour which is the large house seen here in middle of the picture facing the Thames. No depiction of L’Erber has come down to us. Part of theContinue reading “L’Erber – London Home to Warwick the Kingmaker and George Duke of Clarence”
A MEDIEVAL POTPOURRI 