Author Archives: sparkypus

The Smythe monument Elford Church.  Photo Aidan McRae Thomson Of the four sons of Richard Neville,  Earl of Salisbury, only two, Richard Earl of Warwick and John Marquis of Montagu had children.    Warwick, who would go on to  become known as the ‘Kingmaker’,  and who married Anne Beauchamp (1426-1492)  had two daughters,  while John whoContinue reading “THE CHILDREN OF JOHN NEVILLE, MARQUIS OF MONTAGU and EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND d.1471”

The graffiti commemorating the Dudleys.  Beauchamp Tower.  Photo Spitalfieldlife  I am, to be honest not a fan of graffiti, also known as graffito, neither do I know anyone who is. However, if you are talking historical graffiti, and from no less than the Tower of London, well that is definitely a different ball game andContinue reading “THE GRAFFITI OF THE TOWER OF LONDON”

Anne Montgomery nee Darcy.  A highly respected member of the Ladies of the Minories.  Window of Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Suffolk. Shakespeare famously said ‘All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players‘.  Following on from that if we may be allowed to say that the Wars of the RosesContinue reading “The Abbey of the Minoresses of St Clare without Aldgate and the Ladies of the Minories”

Old London – City of Churches.   Bow Church can be seen to the left.  Part of the The Visscher Panorama of London, 1616. Image Peter Harrington Rare Books.   Orange and lemons say the bells of Saint Clement’s You owe me five farthings say the bells of St Martin’s When will you pay meContinue reading “THE ORANGE AND LEMON CHURCHES OF OLD LONDON”

Humphrey Duke of Gloucester from the Talbot Shrewsbury Book A print by an unknown artist now in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich depicting the Palace c 1487. Greenwich Palace, or Placentia as it is often known, was built around 1433 by Henry V’s brother, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, who named it Bella Court after heContinue reading “GREENWICH PALACE – HUMPHREY DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S PALACE OF PLEAZANCE”

A young Henry weeping on the empty bed of his dead mother Elizabeth of York.  His two sisters Margaret and Mary sit at the foot of the bed.  From the Vaux Passional, in the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth As an enthusiastic amateur I do love all the minutiae of history particularly the coincidences which cropContinue reading “THE PASSING OF ELIZABETH OF YORK – A ROYAL COINCIDENCE.”

 15th century stained glass from  great east window St Nicholas Chapel, Gipping.  Did Elizabeth Wydeville gaze up at this very window if the family tradition is correct.    Photo thanks to Gerry Morris @ Flikr While there is much information on Sir James  Tyrell, c.1455-1502  available,  unfortunately some of it is erroneous and distortion atContinue reading “SIR JAMES TYRELL – CHILD KILLER OR PROVIDER OF A SAFE HOUSE ?”

   St Michaels Mount.  ‘A Strong Place and Mighty’  wrote Warkworth in his Chronicle. Perkin left Katherine and their son here prior to his march to Exeter.  Note the causeway.  Thanks to John Starkey @ Flikr for this atmospheric photo. It may seem prima facie that Katherine was a tragic figure, and perhaps she was forContinue reading “Lady Katherine Gordon – Wife to Perkin Warbeck”

St Mary’s, Fairford, Gloucestershire.  ‘A complete and perfect Perpendicular church’  and famous for it fine collection of medieval glass. Described in Betjeman’s Best British Churches as ‘a complete and perfect Perpendicular’ church(1) this beautiful wool church was rebuilt by John Tame, a wool merchant from Gloucester , in the late 15th Century to replace aContinue reading “ST MARY’S CHURCH, FAIRFORD: TUDOR ROYAL PORTRAITS”

This is thought to be a portrait of Perkin Warbeck/Richard Duke of York from the Tournament Tapestry at Valenciennes Perkin Warbeck.  Pencil sketch c1560.  Note the eye blemish in both portraits. Following on from my earlier post and the theory that John Evans, who lies buried in Coldridge Church Devon,  was indeed Edward V,  hasContinue reading “RICHARD OF SHREWSBURY, DUKE OF YORK ALIAS PERKIN WARBECK AND THE ASSAULTS ON THE GATES OF EXETER”