THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE – A GIFT FROM HENRY V TO THE CITY OF LONDON

The Crystal Sceptre.  Given by a grateful King Henry V to the City of London in recognition of the financial aid given towards the Battle of Agincourt. Photo The Lord Mayor of London @Twitter. Some of the eagle eyed amongst you who recently watched the coronation of Charles III may have spotted a very specialContinue reading “THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE – A GIFT FROM HENRY V TO THE CITY OF LONDON”

Marriage in Medieval London And Extricating Oneself Only You Couldn’t…

Artist’s impression of a medieval wedding being solemnised. ‘Frieze of a Medieval Wedding’.  Artist Thomas Stothard (1755-1835) Yale Centre for British Art. I have,  in my most recent meanderings,  meandered quite a bit.  Of late I’ve meandered from the Plague Pits of London 1665 to  Gleaston Castle, rendezvous point for the 1487 Yorkist Rebels,  toContinue reading “Marriage in Medieval London And Extricating Oneself Only You Couldn’t…”

GLEASTON CASTLE – RENDEZVOUS FOR THE YORKIST REBELS IN 1487?

Gleaston Castle today.  Entrance to south west tower.  Photo Chloe Grainger @castlestudiestrust.org Some of you reading this may be familiar with other posts I have written concerning what I call the Coldridge theory.   For those of you who are not familiar with the theory here is a brief résumé.  A number of clues inContinue reading “GLEASTON CASTLE – RENDEZVOUS FOR THE YORKIST REBELS IN 1487?”

THE GREAT PLAGUE AND PLAGUE PITS OF LONDON 1665

‘May 29th 1666.  Spent on the City Marshall at ye shutting up of a visited house . . Is.0d.’ Plague had always stalked England throughout the centuries with regular outbreaks such as the one known as the Black Death in the 14th century which brought death on such a scale that whole villages were soContinue reading “THE GREAT PLAGUE AND PLAGUE PITS OF LONDON 1665”

The de Berkeley Heart Burials St Giles Church , Coberley

14th century monument to Sir Thomas de Berkeley of Coberley (1289-d.1365) and his wife Joan Lady de Berkeley nee Archer d. 1369.  The small monument besides the Berkeley monument is that commemorating a heart burial belonging to an unknown female.   St Giles’ Church, Coberley, Gloucestershire.  Photo C B Newham Church  Monuments Society The large monument inContinue reading “The de Berkeley Heart Burials St Giles Church , Coberley”

Sir Edward Dalyngrigge – Soldier, Politican, Courtier and Builder of Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle, Sussex. Built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge between 1385-1388.  Photo History of Bodiam Castle.  Bodiam Castle.  What a beauty and is it possible to find an even finer epitome of a medieval English Castle?  The builder was Sir Edward  Dalyngrigge –  also spelt Dallingridge  –  (c.1346-1393),  the son and heir  of Roger Dallingridge (c.1311-1380)Continue reading “Sir Edward Dalyngrigge – Soldier, Politican, Courtier and Builder of Bodiam Castle”

JOHN ROUS – Author of The Rous Roll, Warwickshire Antiquarian, Chantry Chaplain and Turncoat Extraordinaire?

John Rous ‘drawne by himselfe’.   From the Latin ‘Lancastrian’ version of the rolls.  College of Arms. John Rous or Rows as he called himself (b.c1420 d. 14 January 1492) was the son of  Geoffrey Rous of Warwick, who was a younger son of Thomas Rous of Brinklow, and Margaret, the daughter of Richard Fyncham.  AnContinue reading “JOHN ROUS – Author of The Rous Roll, Warwickshire Antiquarian, Chantry Chaplain and Turncoat Extraordinaire?”

WHARRAM PERCY – A DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE – VICTIM OF THE ‘ENCLOSURES’

A glimpse of  St Martin’s church from the millpond looking north.  This wonderful photo thanks to David Ireland.  ‘It may not be liefull for euery man to vse his owne as hym lysteth, but eueyre man must vse that he hath to the most benefyte of his countrie. Ther must be somethynge deuysed to quenche thisContinue reading “WHARRAM PERCY – A DESERTED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE – VICTIM OF THE ‘ENCLOSURES’”

Ranulph Lord Dacre of Gilsland – The Lord who was buried with his horse.

The monument in All Saints Church, Saxton over the grave of Ranulph Lord Dacre and his horse. Photo Mary Emma1@Flkir Ranulph/Ranulf/Randolph/Ralph, Lord Dacre of Gilsland’s precise date of birth is lost to us – as is his exact Christian name it would seem -but has been suggested as c.1412 although his date of death isContinue reading “Ranulph Lord Dacre of Gilsland – The Lord who was buried with his horse.”

JOHN DE LA POLE EARL OF LINCOLN AND ELSTON CHAPEL – A POSSIBLE BURIAL PLACE?

The Last Stand of Martin Schwartz and his German Mercenaries at the Battle of Stoke Field 16th June 1487.  Unknown artist Cassell’s Century Edition History of England c.1901. The battle of Stoke Field fought on the  16th June 1487 has been discussed elsewhere extensively so there is no need for me to go into it here.Continue reading “JOHN DE LA POLE EARL OF LINCOLN AND ELSTON CHAPEL – A POSSIBLE BURIAL PLACE?”