A MEANDER INTO MEDIEVAL HISTORY INCLUDING MEDIEVAL LONDON, PALACES, CASTLES, CHURCH MONUMENTS, TOMBS, YORKIST KINGS AND QUEENS, HEROES, VILLAINS AND VILLAINESSES AND THE ODD CATTE..
Effigies of Henry Vll and Elizabeth of York by Torrigiano Henry died on 21 April 1509. Henry has come down through history as something of a miser, a tightwad. Whether this is undeserved or otherwise , I do not know, although his Privy Purse Expenses make very interesting reading. He certainly enjoyed gambling, frequently incurringContinue reading “Was Henry VII mean? His funeral and other Expenses.”
Save as PDFEdward of Middleham from the Beauchamp Pageant. Described as ‘Edward Plantagenet, son to Kyng Richard’ It has been said that, along with so many children of the times he lived in, even those of the nobility, not a lot is known about Edward, the small son of Richard III and Anne Neville. It seems, sadly,Continue reading “EDWARD OF MIDDLEHAM ‘SON TO KYNG RICHARD’ & THE MYSTERIOUS SHERIFF HUTTON MONUMENT”
Save as PDFAveline’s effigy as drawn by Charles Alfred Stothard ‘The Monumental Effigies of Great Britain‘. Aveline/Avelina de Forz, Countess of Lancaster (1259-1274) was the first wife of Edmund ‘Crouchback’, first earl of Lancaster, first earl of Leicester and a Plantagenet prince (1245-1296). Edmund was the son of Henry III and his queen, Eleanor of Provence,Continue reading “AVELINE de FORZ – AN EARLY PLANTAGENET BRIDE & HER TOMB IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.”
Save as PDFIn the church of All Saints, Carshalton, now part of South London, can be found the charming 15th century brass of Margaret Gaynesford nee Sidney, her husband Nicholas and their various children. Due to the brass being attached to the wall and not the floor, as is usually the case, it has still retained muchContinue reading “MARGARET GAYNESFORD – GENTLEWOMAN TO QUEEN ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE”
Save as PDFThis is said to be a portrait of Cicely, Mary of York’s sister , but its likely they were very similar in looks. Originally in the Royal Window, Northwest Transept, Canterbury Cathedral but now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. Mary Plantagenet also known as Mary of York was the second daughter of King Edward IVContinue reading “MARY PLANTAGENET – DAUGHTER OF EDWARD IV & ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE – A LIFE CUT SHORT”
Save as PDFCLATTERN BRIDGE Photo @Matt Brown Clattern Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, was built prior to 1293 to replace an even older Saxon bridge and amazingly is still in use today. A good example of a medieval multi-span bridge and still containing impressive medieval masonry. The first Saxon bridge, probably built to replace an even older ford,Continue reading “CLATTERN BRIDGE -A MEDIEVAL BRIDGE – KINGSTON UPON THAMES”
Save as PDFOn Friday 13th June 1483 Cardinal Morton (c.1420-d.1500) along with others, was arrested at the Tower of London. The role Morton played in the downfall of Richard III is well documented. Morton could be counted among Richard’s most dangerous enemies and his deviousness, cunning and powers of manipulation being well known, there is no needContinue reading “CARDINAL JOHN MORTON’S TOMB IN THE CHAPEL OF LADY UNDERCROFT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL”
Save as PDFElizabeth Wydeville, unknown artist, Royal Collection. If anyone today wandering around Bermondsey, South London, should find themselves in redeveloped Bermondsey Square they may be surprised to find that they are standing on the spot where once stood the quadrangle of Bermondsey Abbey, the entrance to the square being the site of the Abbey gatehouse. VeryContinue reading “BERMONDSEY ABBEY AND ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE’S ‘RETIREMENT’ THERE”
Save as PDFMural in the Royal Exchange, Offer of the Kingship to Richard Duke of Gloucester at Baynard’s Castle June 26 1483 , Sigismund Goetz On this day 27 June 1483 no doubt King Richard, and his wife Anne, both awoke shell shocked. Perhaps they had slept little as they no doubt took in the significance ofContinue reading “A NEW KING, A NEW REIGN – KING RICHARD III, LOYAULTÉ ME LIE”
Save as PDFSir William Stanley crowning Henry Tudor with the fallen King Richard’s crown in the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth. Unknown artist.. It is well documented how, through the treasonable and treacherous actions of Sir William Stanley at Bosworth, Richard III lost his crown and his life. He was hacked to death after Sir William,Continue reading “SIR WILLIAM STANLEY – TURNCOAT OR LOYALIST?”
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