Ightham Mote ( pronounced Item) the most complete moated manor house in the country was first established in 1360 long before the Tudor period.
Sir Richard Clement (1521 - 1538),one of Henry VIII ministers, embellished the House with Tudor symbols, (Oriel window barge boards, Great Hall stained glass and in particular, the unique Chapel ceiling, wood panelling painted with symbols from Henry VIII.
The ceiling is painted with Tudor Roses but some are conjoined with pomegranates, the badge of Catherine of Aragon. That fits into the period that Catherine was Queen of England, up until 1533 anyway.
The house has another rather unusual claim, in that it has the only grade 1 listed dog kennel in the country. This dog kennel is the inspiration behind J.M Barrie's Peter Pan and the character of Nana, the Darling childrens large pet dog. Now you just have to take a photo of that.
www,tudorhistorytours.com
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Sir Thomas More
Today is the feast day of Sir Thomas More who was executed on the orders of Henry VIII because he would not take the Oath of Loyalty to Henry and the new Queen Anne.
Sir Thomas holds the distinction of being both a lawyer and a saint.
He was the Lord Chancellor of England and was also a friend of Henry, but Thomas was a pious man and was devoted to Queen Catherine, along with Bishop Fisher who was also executed a couple of days before Sir Thomas and for the same reason.
What strength of resolve and character drove a man, who lived in exalted circles of court, to deny the King what he wanted. Sir Thomas clung to his catholic faith and refused to sign the Oath in the certain knowlege that he would meet his maker sooner rather than later as a result.
As for Henry, he had his friend executed to encourage all the rest to sign up to the new order, The new church in England of which he was now head.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Sir Thomas holds the distinction of being both a lawyer and a saint.
He was the Lord Chancellor of England and was also a friend of Henry, but Thomas was a pious man and was devoted to Queen Catherine, along with Bishop Fisher who was also executed a couple of days before Sir Thomas and for the same reason.
What strength of resolve and character drove a man, who lived in exalted circles of court, to deny the King what he wanted. Sir Thomas clung to his catholic faith and refused to sign the Oath in the certain knowlege that he would meet his maker sooner rather than later as a result.
As for Henry, he had his friend executed to encourage all the rest to sign up to the new order, The new church in England of which he was now head.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
State Lottery 1566
The glory and magnificence of the Tudors still has power to amaze today. A letter from Elizabeth I to Sir John Spencer on 31 August 1566 giving him instructions to organise England's first State Lottery went up for sale by auction last Sunday.
The letter contains the details of how much tickets were to cost(10 shillings) and the top prize of £5,000 (about £850,000 in todays money). The draw was not actually held until 1569 because of the problems selling tickets across thye country.
The spelling is of course not what we are used to today and is also a flowery language, below is a short extract
'Where we have com[m]anded a ceratine carte of a Lotterie to be published by our Shirif of Countie in the principall townes of the same, of which we send you certen copies for the further execution thereof it is expedient to have somme persons appointed of good trust to receave such particular sommes as our subjects shall of their owne free disposition be ready to deliver upon the said lotterie who also shall w[it]hout faile be dewly authorised and their adventures shall happen w[it]hout either deceypt or delaye.'
The proceeds of the lottery were to go good causes
'Anything advantagious is ordered to be employed to good and publique acts and beneficially for o[u]r Realme and o[u]r Subjects') and nthe prizes werre to be money gold or other fine material and tapestries.
The letter? well it was sold for £24,000!! at that price I'll have to put in a bit of overtime I think.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
The letter contains the details of how much tickets were to cost(10 shillings) and the top prize of £5,000 (about £850,000 in todays money). The draw was not actually held until 1569 because of the problems selling tickets across thye country.
The spelling is of course not what we are used to today and is also a flowery language, below is a short extract
'Where we have com[m]anded a ceratine carte of a Lotterie to be published by our Shirif of Countie in the principall townes of the same, of which we send you certen copies for the further execution thereof it is expedient to have somme persons appointed of good trust to receave such particular sommes as our subjects shall of their owne free disposition be ready to deliver upon the said lotterie who also shall w[it]hout faile be dewly authorised and their adventures shall happen w[it]hout either deceypt or delaye.'
The proceeds of the lottery were to go good causes
'Anything advantagious is ordered to be employed to good and publique acts and beneficially for o[u]r Realme and o[u]r Subjects') and nthe prizes werre to be money gold or other fine material and tapestries.
The letter? well it was sold for £24,000!! at that price I'll have to put in a bit of overtime I think.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
The Field of the Cloth of Gold
June 7th 1520 King Henry VIII met Francis I the King of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold near Calais.
It was a sumptuous affair lasting two weeks and each king tried to outdo each other with lavish entertainment with all their courtiers in attendance. There was so much gold cloth in the costumes and in the tents that the event the was so named. The event is depicted in the most famous painting, with the Henry arriving on a horse in grand procession. The wine fountain flows freely and there are a few people who have had a tad too much to drink I think. The wine fountain has been re-created at Hampton Court palace recently, and for a small fee, you can have some wine.
Way up in the background in the painting there are two figures in a tent, either embracing or wrestling with each other, was this the time Francis won the wrestling duel and threw our Henry?
Henry was just 28 years old at the time and a very impressive male figure, 6 foot 2 inches tall and it must have really hurt his pride to be thrown.
The whole affair was supposed to establish closer relations and friendships between the two countries, it succeeded, but only for a short while.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It was a sumptuous affair lasting two weeks and each king tried to outdo each other with lavish entertainment with all their courtiers in attendance. There was so much gold cloth in the costumes and in the tents that the event the was so named. The event is depicted in the most famous painting, with the Henry arriving on a horse in grand procession. The wine fountain flows freely and there are a few people who have had a tad too much to drink I think. The wine fountain has been re-created at Hampton Court palace recently, and for a small fee, you can have some wine.
Way up in the background in the painting there are two figures in a tent, either embracing or wrestling with each other, was this the time Francis won the wrestling duel and threw our Henry?
Henry was just 28 years old at the time and a very impressive male figure, 6 foot 2 inches tall and it must have really hurt his pride to be thrown.
The whole affair was supposed to establish closer relations and friendships between the two countries, it succeeded, but only for a short while.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Kings College Chapel Cambridge
What a magnificent place this is. On a glorious sunny day the superlatives rapidly dry up to describe the assault on your senses.
Set right in the middle of the University city of Cambridge, the Chapel is larger than some Cathedrals I've been in. You walk in through the north door under the wrought iron gate with the Crown set in a thorn bush. This is to remind us that Henry VII found the Crown in a thorn bush at the battle of Bosworth, well, Shakespeare tells us so anyway.
As you step into the chapel itself it just takes your breath away. It is a statement from Henry VIII, you can hear him shouting down the centuries to us,"I am Henry Octavus, Lord of this land, This is me and I WILL be remembered" There are his coat of arms everywhere, dragons & greyhounds, Tudor roses, Portcullises and sheilds, the most magnificent fan vaulted roof, the largest anywhere in the world.
There is more than one unique feature in this buidling. One of the Tudor Roses in the north west corner has a female figure in the centre, the only one I have seen anywhere. It is of Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII's mother, now why is that?
There are two of his wives here, Anne Boleyn's initials are carved in the oak Rood Screen in the middle of the Chapel. The carver must have forgot to remove them after she unfortunately mislaid her head, or was it on Henry's orders? Katherine Howard is seen in one of the windows high up and adoring Henry, who is actually Solomon but with fiery red hair. It is the only authenticated image of Katherine Howard known anywhere. High up on the East Window, so high up that you either rick your neck or have to stand back a very long way, above the Red dragon of Wales are the letters, H & K, the initials of Katherine Howard.
The organist was practising all the time I was there and as I stepped out of one of the side chapels a full blast of music was timed to perfection to hit me as I stepped through the door, made me jump back. I stayed for ages just listenng to the music and didn't really want to leave.
A truly remarkable place to visit.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Set right in the middle of the University city of Cambridge, the Chapel is larger than some Cathedrals I've been in. You walk in through the north door under the wrought iron gate with the Crown set in a thorn bush. This is to remind us that Henry VII found the Crown in a thorn bush at the battle of Bosworth, well, Shakespeare tells us so anyway.
As you step into the chapel itself it just takes your breath away. It is a statement from Henry VIII, you can hear him shouting down the centuries to us,"I am Henry Octavus, Lord of this land, This is me and I WILL be remembered" There are his coat of arms everywhere, dragons & greyhounds, Tudor roses, Portcullises and sheilds, the most magnificent fan vaulted roof, the largest anywhere in the world.
There is more than one unique feature in this buidling. One of the Tudor Roses in the north west corner has a female figure in the centre, the only one I have seen anywhere. It is of Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII's mother, now why is that?
There are two of his wives here, Anne Boleyn's initials are carved in the oak Rood Screen in the middle of the Chapel. The carver must have forgot to remove them after she unfortunately mislaid her head, or was it on Henry's orders? Katherine Howard is seen in one of the windows high up and adoring Henry, who is actually Solomon but with fiery red hair. It is the only authenticated image of Katherine Howard known anywhere. High up on the East Window, so high up that you either rick your neck or have to stand back a very long way, above the Red dragon of Wales are the letters, H & K, the initials of Katherine Howard.
The organist was practising all the time I was there and as I stepped out of one of the side chapels a full blast of music was timed to perfection to hit me as I stepped through the door, made me jump back. I stayed for ages just listenng to the music and didn't really want to leave.
A truly remarkable place to visit.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Fit for a King
The new exhibition at the Tower of London called Fit for a King is a real innovation in it's presentation. There are suits of Henry VIII's armour in all their magnificence on display as well as other outfits and uniforms of other Kings of England. The Armours were made for Henry to show off and to dazzle the people of course and you can see how later in life was a very portly gentleman to say it kindly, and complete with the Cod piece too.
Now the real innovation is the presentation of the the component parts of the suits of armour alongside in a frame like they were pieces of a giant plastic model. Those of you who may remember as a 10 year old trying to glue together a plastic model boat or airplane will know what it will look like. Then in between the giant model and the real suit of armour is a TV screen that shows the pieces of the model actually being taken from the frame and put together to form the whole. It is a great trick and shows how the armour fits together bit by bit.
A real joy to watch and only takes a couple of minutes to go through the loop, of course the real suit would have taken many people to assist and much longer to fit on the King.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Now the real innovation is the presentation of the the component parts of the suits of armour alongside in a frame like they were pieces of a giant plastic model. Those of you who may remember as a 10 year old trying to glue together a plastic model boat or airplane will know what it will look like. Then in between the giant model and the real suit of armour is a TV screen that shows the pieces of the model actually being taken from the frame and put together to form the whole. It is a great trick and shows how the armour fits together bit by bit.
A real joy to watch and only takes a couple of minutes to go through the loop, of course the real suit would have taken many people to assist and much longer to fit on the King.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Wine flows at the Palace
Wine flows in the courtyard at Hampton Court Palace now. Historic Royal Palaces have recreated the wine fountain seen on the famous painting of the Field of Cloth of Gold where Henry VIII meets with the King of France.
The edifice is huge and is complete with some figures that are drunk as shown in the painting too, and lots of tourist get to have their photo in the same position. For a small fee (over 18's only) you can have a cup of wine from the fountain, we didn't get to try it as it wasn't open till after we left, but next time we'll stay longer and sample the wine.
Hampton Court Palace has much to recommend to the visitor, there are daily plays around the place which are themed but each one different. On the day we were there Henry was getting married to Catherine Parr, you could watch Catherine chose her wedding dress or Henry having his last batchelor drink with some of his mates, and you had the chance to dress in either red or green robes to walk about the place.
The Costumes worn by the participants were magnificent and gave plenty of time to take photos.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
The edifice is huge and is complete with some figures that are drunk as shown in the painting too, and lots of tourist get to have their photo in the same position. For a small fee (over 18's only) you can have a cup of wine from the fountain, we didn't get to try it as it wasn't open till after we left, but next time we'll stay longer and sample the wine.
Hampton Court Palace has much to recommend to the visitor, there are daily plays around the place which are themed but each one different. On the day we were there Henry was getting married to Catherine Parr, you could watch Catherine chose her wedding dress or Henry having his last batchelor drink with some of his mates, and you had the chance to dress in either red or green robes to walk about the place.
The Costumes worn by the participants were magnificent and gave plenty of time to take photos.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Spring at last
Whilst walking on the nature trail at Herstmonceux castle we came across our first bluebells of the season nestling in a really sunny sheltered spot near the folly by the lake. So spring is here at last, traditionally the first cuckoo is heard on the 10th of April but we didn't hear it. 90% of the worlds common bluebells are found only in britain and most of those in the South East. It's always a pleasure to get out walking in the spring.
Herstmonceux castle ( herst-mon-zoo) holds a special place, it's the first brick built castle in the country 1441, not a castle really but a crennelated manor house that is defensible with a moat. It is still one of the most significant brick built buildings in the country.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory took over the place in 1957 and built a number of telescopes, some of which are still used by the local astronomical society to have a look at a celestial event. The RGO moved out in the late 80's as most of the real observing is done in the Canary Islands now, since then the place has been owned by Queens University of Onatario, as the International Science and Study Centre, what a great place to come and study!
I used to work there when it was the RGO over 20 years ago and there was some fantastic childrens Christmas parties with loads of kids running about the place trying to find the treasure and rescue the princess from the tower. The place is also a wedding venue and the bridal suite is in one of the turrets, how cool is that?
The castle holds and annual medieval festival in August and its now the largest of it's type and lasts three days. It's now in it's 18th year and Tudor history tours will attend the festival on the August tour.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Herstmonceux castle ( herst-mon-zoo) holds a special place, it's the first brick built castle in the country 1441, not a castle really but a crennelated manor house that is defensible with a moat. It is still one of the most significant brick built buildings in the country.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory took over the place in 1957 and built a number of telescopes, some of which are still used by the local astronomical society to have a look at a celestial event. The RGO moved out in the late 80's as most of the real observing is done in the Canary Islands now, since then the place has been owned by Queens University of Onatario, as the International Science and Study Centre, what a great place to come and study!
I used to work there when it was the RGO over 20 years ago and there was some fantastic childrens Christmas parties with loads of kids running about the place trying to find the treasure and rescue the princess from the tower. The place is also a wedding venue and the bridal suite is in one of the turrets, how cool is that?
The castle holds and annual medieval festival in August and its now the largest of it's type and lasts three days. It's now in it's 18th year and Tudor history tours will attend the festival on the August tour.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Friday, 9 April 2010
Smallhythe Place
Smallhythe is just a simple gem of a place that you stumble across almost by accident. A village set in the heart of the Kent countryside that was in Tudor times a hive of shipbuilding activity. The Great Harry, Henry VIII's warship was built here and Smallhythe Place was the Harbourmasters house and office built in 1514.
The house was purchased in 1899 by the actress Ellen Terry and the house is a shrine to her with costumes diplays and lots of theatre artifacts. Ellen Terry was hugely famous in her day and she died in 1928. After her death, her daughter set about turning the old barn, built in 1560, out the back garden into a theatre. And how she has succeeded. It's so small only 77 seats and they have performances in the summer. The seats were bought by the great and good of the British theatre and music, Paul McCartney has his name one one ( he only lives about 4 miles away). A very beautiful and peaceful place to go to nestling on a slight rise above the silted up river plain.
Only 50 yards away is the Parish church built in 1516-17 during the reign of Henry VIII. It is unusual, built of red brick brought over from flanders and the stepped gable ends are sure sign of Dutch influence. In 1509 an order was issued by Archbishop Warham that the parishoners were allowed to elect their own priest. This privelege was unique in the whole Kingdom and was to last for more that 400 years. Sadly the stained glass windows are relatively modern replaced in 1952 after the original was destroyed by a V1 rocket in 1944.
Just to finish the day off nearby is Chapel Down vinyard that sells very good English wines. All in all a beautiful place to visit.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
The house was purchased in 1899 by the actress Ellen Terry and the house is a shrine to her with costumes diplays and lots of theatre artifacts. Ellen Terry was hugely famous in her day and she died in 1928. After her death, her daughter set about turning the old barn, built in 1560, out the back garden into a theatre. And how she has succeeded. It's so small only 77 seats and they have performances in the summer. The seats were bought by the great and good of the British theatre and music, Paul McCartney has his name one one ( he only lives about 4 miles away). A very beautiful and peaceful place to go to nestling on a slight rise above the silted up river plain.
Only 50 yards away is the Parish church built in 1516-17 during the reign of Henry VIII. It is unusual, built of red brick brought over from flanders and the stepped gable ends are sure sign of Dutch influence. In 1509 an order was issued by Archbishop Warham that the parishoners were allowed to elect their own priest. This privelege was unique in the whole Kingdom and was to last for more that 400 years. Sadly the stained glass windows are relatively modern replaced in 1952 after the original was destroyed by a V1 rocket in 1944.
Just to finish the day off nearby is Chapel Down vinyard that sells very good English wines. All in all a beautiful place to visit.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Walmer and Deal castles
On a beautiful dry and sunny day we visited first Walmer and then just a mile away Deal castles. These are two thirds of the castles in the Downs, the third, Sandown was was largely demolished in the 19th Century.
These castles were built by Henry VIII in 1539 as part of the coastal defences to prevent beach landings. Deal is the largest, strong and sturdy, and right on the beach. It has largely been left as it was in Tudor times save for an update in the 1700's. You can wander around the clover leaf construction and go deep into the powder store below the keep.
Anne of Cleves landed here and stayed briefly at the castle on her way to marry Henry in December 1539 and the place still has that Tudor atmosphere. It's not too much stretch of the imagination to see her walking around the corner. It is said that you could see the glow from the Fire ships that scattered the Spanish Armada from this castle.
Walmer castle on the other hand is very much a lived in castle, as it has been the official home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque ports since 1708, and still occupied as such.
Walmer is also a clover leaf design and construction, but the place is very much alive with the famous men and women who have inhabited the official quaters.
People like the Duke of Wellington, William Pitt the Younger, WH Smith (yes the newsagent). Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
All of them have left a mark on the castle in some way or other and there are many exhibitions to see inside. Outside the Queen Mother has left a beautiful walled garden but because we have had such a cold winter the plants are not yet in bloom. There were activities going on in the extensive and well tended gardens, story telling and music by a travelling troup and much face painting for the kids.
The castle looks and feels much different to Deal and it's Tudor heart is hard to find, but deep in the powder store under the keep you can hear it beating.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
These castles were built by Henry VIII in 1539 as part of the coastal defences to prevent beach landings. Deal is the largest, strong and sturdy, and right on the beach. It has largely been left as it was in Tudor times save for an update in the 1700's. You can wander around the clover leaf construction and go deep into the powder store below the keep.
Anne of Cleves landed here and stayed briefly at the castle on her way to marry Henry in December 1539 and the place still has that Tudor atmosphere. It's not too much stretch of the imagination to see her walking around the corner. It is said that you could see the glow from the Fire ships that scattered the Spanish Armada from this castle.
Walmer castle on the other hand is very much a lived in castle, as it has been the official home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque ports since 1708, and still occupied as such.
Walmer is also a clover leaf design and construction, but the place is very much alive with the famous men and women who have inhabited the official quaters.
People like the Duke of Wellington, William Pitt the Younger, WH Smith (yes the newsagent). Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
All of them have left a mark on the castle in some way or other and there are many exhibitions to see inside. Outside the Queen Mother has left a beautiful walled garden but because we have had such a cold winter the plants are not yet in bloom. There were activities going on in the extensive and well tended gardens, story telling and music by a travelling troup and much face painting for the kids.
The castle looks and feels much different to Deal and it's Tudor heart is hard to find, but deep in the powder store under the keep you can hear it beating.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Southsea Castle
Over a busy Easter weekend we went to a few places, Southsea Castle being the first on Good Friday.
Southsea Castle was built by Henry VIII during the frenetic buillding period of 1544. It's a star shape with pointed bastions, built right on the point of land by what is now Southsea common and dominates the approach to Portsmouth harbour. The walls are very thick, over two metres and was used by the military right up to the second world war. Indeed the army insisted on still being able to fly the flag over the castle when it was handed over to civilian powers in 1960. It has been extended over the centuries but the Tudor Heart beats fiercely and the exhibition in the Keep is mainly of it's construction and garrision during the Tudor period. Some of the
Climbing up a narrow stone stairway to the bastions, I was greeted by the sight of a huge cross channel ferry going to France passing so close by that I could have reached out and touched it. In fact the main shipping channel is only 200 yards off shore but the perspective is very deceiving.
It was here that Henry was standing during the naval battle with the French off Spithead in 1545 when he saw the Mary Rose sink. This scene is depicted in full on the Cowdray engraving, it shows Henry onshore and just the mast tops of the Mary Rose above the water with a few of the crew trying to swim for their lives. You can easily see the wreck bouy from the bastions about 400 yards offshore. The Mary Rose sank because she was turning about and her lower gunports were open, a sudden gust of wind keeled her over a bit more and water poured into the open gunports.
Last Friday the tide in the Solent was as high as I've ever seen it and the wind was driving the seas onshore. The waves were crashing over the prominade making walkers dash for safety. If the wind that day the ship sank was as anything like last week it's not too surprising that she keeled over.
More about our Easter weekend to follow.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Southsea Castle was built by Henry VIII during the frenetic buillding period of 1544. It's a star shape with pointed bastions, built right on the point of land by what is now Southsea common and dominates the approach to Portsmouth harbour. The walls are very thick, over two metres and was used by the military right up to the second world war. Indeed the army insisted on still being able to fly the flag over the castle when it was handed over to civilian powers in 1960. It has been extended over the centuries but the Tudor Heart beats fiercely and the exhibition in the Keep is mainly of it's construction and garrision during the Tudor period. Some of the
Climbing up a narrow stone stairway to the bastions, I was greeted by the sight of a huge cross channel ferry going to France passing so close by that I could have reached out and touched it. In fact the main shipping channel is only 200 yards off shore but the perspective is very deceiving.
It was here that Henry was standing during the naval battle with the French off Spithead in 1545 when he saw the Mary Rose sink. This scene is depicted in full on the Cowdray engraving, it shows Henry onshore and just the mast tops of the Mary Rose above the water with a few of the crew trying to swim for their lives. You can easily see the wreck bouy from the bastions about 400 yards offshore. The Mary Rose sank because she was turning about and her lower gunports were open, a sudden gust of wind keeled her over a bit more and water poured into the open gunports.
Last Friday the tide in the Solent was as high as I've ever seen it and the wind was driving the seas onshore. The waves were crashing over the prominade making walkers dash for safety. If the wind that day the ship sank was as anything like last week it's not too surprising that she keeled over.
More about our Easter weekend to follow.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Fit for a King
The new exhibition called Fit for as King opened today in the White Tower at the Tower of London. No it's not an April fools joke it's real.
I was there a few weeks ago on a research visit and amidst all the carpenters, curators, armourers and technicians the exhibition was taking shape. A lot of the gallery was cordoned off to keep the public back behind the rope line, but it was taking shape. It will be stunning, I can't wait to see it finished myself. It shows 500 years of armour and arms Fit for a King, suits of Armour made for the likes of Henry VIII are on display, some rarely seen by the public.
I will report on the full exhibition in due course when we next visit.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
I was there a few weeks ago on a research visit and amidst all the carpenters, curators, armourers and technicians the exhibition was taking shape. A lot of the gallery was cordoned off to keep the public back behind the rope line, but it was taking shape. It will be stunning, I can't wait to see it finished myself. It shows 500 years of armour and arms Fit for a King, suits of Armour made for the likes of Henry VIII are on display, some rarely seen by the public.
I will report on the full exhibition in due course when we next visit.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Katherine or Catherine
Today being Lady day, I thought it would be appropriate to have a word about some of the six wives of Henry VIII and especially Mrs Parr.
There has been two new books published very recently in 2010, one by Linda Porter titled Katherine the Queen-the remakable life of Katherine Parr and another by Elizabeth Norton titled Catherine Parr- wife, widow, mother, survivor and the last Queen of Henry VIII. (a bit of a long subtitle really.) There is also a book written last year titled Catherine Parr Henry -VIII's last love by Lucey Baldwin Smith
Now the first thing to notice of course that her name has been spelt with a different letter. Spelling in Tudor times was a bit random even the word queen was spelt quene. It wasn't until Dr Johnson published his dictionary that spelling as we know it was made common. I'll leave it to you to read the books and decide which spelling you prefer but I'll keep with Catherine.
She was a remarkable woman and also very wealthy having been married twice before, she married again after Henry to Thomas Seymour. She out lived Henry but died shortly after childbirth of her child with Seymour. What is with Henry and three wives called Catherine? It must have made the scribes life a little easier at least. The title of survivor should really go to Anne or Anna of Cleves, she outlived all of them, she also perhaps should have the title of virgin Queen.
Elizabeth Norton has also written a book on Anne of Cleeves last year and Jane Seymour too.
All the six wives have different reasons for marrying the King and came from different backgrounds and even different countries. He married four times out of love, once out of affection and only once for Duty. Tudor History Tours have two themed tours this year looking for the Six Wives of One King and we have received a goodly number of enquiries.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
There has been two new books published very recently in 2010, one by Linda Porter titled Katherine the Queen-the remakable life of Katherine Parr and another by Elizabeth Norton titled Catherine Parr- wife, widow, mother, survivor and the last Queen of Henry VIII. (a bit of a long subtitle really.) There is also a book written last year titled Catherine Parr Henry -VIII's last love by Lucey Baldwin Smith
Now the first thing to notice of course that her name has been spelt with a different letter. Spelling in Tudor times was a bit random even the word queen was spelt quene. It wasn't until Dr Johnson published his dictionary that spelling as we know it was made common. I'll leave it to you to read the books and decide which spelling you prefer but I'll keep with Catherine.
She was a remarkable woman and also very wealthy having been married twice before, she married again after Henry to Thomas Seymour. She out lived Henry but died shortly after childbirth of her child with Seymour. What is with Henry and three wives called Catherine? It must have made the scribes life a little easier at least. The title of survivor should really go to Anne or Anna of Cleves, she outlived all of them, she also perhaps should have the title of virgin Queen.
Elizabeth Norton has also written a book on Anne of Cleeves last year and Jane Seymour too.
All the six wives have different reasons for marrying the King and came from different backgrounds and even different countries. He married four times out of love, once out of affection and only once for Duty. Tudor History Tours have two themed tours this year looking for the Six Wives of One King and we have received a goodly number of enquiries.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Thursday, 18 March 2010
The changing faces of Elizabeth I
I went to see a new exhibition yesterday that has opened this week in the Tudor room of the National Portrait Gallery called Concealed and revealed-the Changing faces of Elizabeth I.
A series of four paintings of Elizabeth that have been altered in some way from their original creation are on display and are painted at various times in her life from 1560's until her death in 1603.
An X-ray of one painting shows that Elizabeth was not the original sitter, a clear image of another face, behind and slightly higher can be seen. One painting was retouched in the 18th Century, it shows a very beautiful Elizabeth, younger too.
The highlight is the painting by an unknown artist that has not been seen by the public since 1921. It shows Elizabeth holding a serpent coiled around her right hand. It's a ghostly image as the painting has deteriorated which it was why it was removed from public display. The over painting shows Elizabeth holding a posy of Tudor roses but hidden underneath and before the varnish was applied is the serpent. A reconstruction of the serpent is placed alongside the painting to show what the original would have looked like.
Serpents held many meanings and symbolism in Tudor times. The image of Elizabeth was tightly controlled and the artist was probaly told by the controllers that it was too ambiguous for the population at the time so it was painted over. A case of Tudor spin doctors having their say.
The exhibition will run until September 26, is well worth a visit and admission is free.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
A series of four paintings of Elizabeth that have been altered in some way from their original creation are on display and are painted at various times in her life from 1560's until her death in 1603.
An X-ray of one painting shows that Elizabeth was not the original sitter, a clear image of another face, behind and slightly higher can be seen. One painting was retouched in the 18th Century, it shows a very beautiful Elizabeth, younger too.
The highlight is the painting by an unknown artist that has not been seen by the public since 1921. It shows Elizabeth holding a serpent coiled around her right hand. It's a ghostly image as the painting has deteriorated which it was why it was removed from public display. The over painting shows Elizabeth holding a posy of Tudor roses but hidden underneath and before the varnish was applied is the serpent. A reconstruction of the serpent is placed alongside the painting to show what the original would have looked like.
Serpents held many meanings and symbolism in Tudor times. The image of Elizabeth was tightly controlled and the artist was probaly told by the controllers that it was too ambiguous for the population at the time so it was painted over. A case of Tudor spin doctors having their say.
The exhibition will run until September 26, is well worth a visit and admission is free.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Cannons in the Weald
On a clear, crisp and very cold last Sunday morning where the temperature didn't get above 3C/38f, we set off with hats and gloves to find the iron making foundries in the High Weald of East Sussex. The ground was still a little icy in places under the trees and not too muddy in others, the footpaths were clearly marked and only once missed a marker and had to retrace our steps.
It is difficult to believe today that this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was the industrial heartland of England with many Iron making foundries 500 years ago in the Tudor age. The evidence is there to be discovered with place names like Huggets Furnace farm and Little Forge. The latter operated for over a hundred years from 1560 to 1667.
Making iron in the High Weald was very efficient because all the elements to make iron were there and still are. Walking through the hilly countryside, pausing for a moment when we came across a herd of deer and later on a couple of wild boars in the woods, we found a large number of Hammer ponds flowing into Ghylls. A Ghyll is a steep sided fast flowing stream with exposed sandstone. The sandstone contains the iron ore, we know this because the surface of the stone is rusty. The stone was quarried and only had to be transported a short distance to the foundry.
The Ghyll provided the motive power for the mill wheels that in turn operated the bellows and the hammers in the furnaces. The charcoal to fuel the furnaces was provided by the Chestnut coppices that are on a 7 year harvest cycle and still are. We came across a chap preparing a charcoal burning fire alongside a hammer pond, a skill practiced since Roman times in this area.
The first blast furnace was used in England at Ashdown forest in 1496 and in 1543 the first iron cannon was successfully cast from a clay mould in one piece at Buxted by father and son Ralph and John Hogge. These cannons were much stronger and safer than the previous guns made in sections and held together by bands and therefore Sussex cannons were able to corner the market. There is a small 16th century cannon in Mayfield village High Street that was recovered from the remains of the Mayfield furnace in 1864.
It can be said that all the cannons for Henry VIII's navy were cast in the High Weald and the guns that defeated the Spanish Armada were forged in the heart of Sussex.
Our walk also passed by a number of WWII pill boxes, small squat concrete and brick buildings sited in the woods and fields along the way, these were built to fight any German invasion of Britain in 1940.
After 3 and half hours we got back to the car a little tired and rosy cheeked from the cold but very satisfied to have found so much local history.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
It is difficult to believe today that this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was the industrial heartland of England with many Iron making foundries 500 years ago in the Tudor age. The evidence is there to be discovered with place names like Huggets Furnace farm and Little Forge. The latter operated for over a hundred years from 1560 to 1667.
Making iron in the High Weald was very efficient because all the elements to make iron were there and still are. Walking through the hilly countryside, pausing for a moment when we came across a herd of deer and later on a couple of wild boars in the woods, we found a large number of Hammer ponds flowing into Ghylls. A Ghyll is a steep sided fast flowing stream with exposed sandstone. The sandstone contains the iron ore, we know this because the surface of the stone is rusty. The stone was quarried and only had to be transported a short distance to the foundry.
The Ghyll provided the motive power for the mill wheels that in turn operated the bellows and the hammers in the furnaces. The charcoal to fuel the furnaces was provided by the Chestnut coppices that are on a 7 year harvest cycle and still are. We came across a chap preparing a charcoal burning fire alongside a hammer pond, a skill practiced since Roman times in this area.
The first blast furnace was used in England at Ashdown forest in 1496 and in 1543 the first iron cannon was successfully cast from a clay mould in one piece at Buxted by father and son Ralph and John Hogge. These cannons were much stronger and safer than the previous guns made in sections and held together by bands and therefore Sussex cannons were able to corner the market. There is a small 16th century cannon in Mayfield village High Street that was recovered from the remains of the Mayfield furnace in 1864.
It can be said that all the cannons for Henry VIII's navy were cast in the High Weald and the guns that defeated the Spanish Armada were forged in the heart of Sussex.
Our walk also passed by a number of WWII pill boxes, small squat concrete and brick buildings sited in the woods and fields along the way, these were built to fight any German invasion of Britain in 1940.
After 3 and half hours we got back to the car a little tired and rosy cheeked from the cold but very satisfied to have found so much local history.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Syon House
March 3rd 1415 Syon House was founded by Henry V, that glorious year in which he fought and won the battle of Agincourt. Originally an Abbey and the only Brigettine House in the country in th 15th Century. Syon has remained in the Percy family since 1584 and is situated within a beautiful park on the river Thames not 10 miles from the centre of London.
Syon House plays a large part in the Tudor century. It became Crown Property in 1539 after the suppression of the Abbey. Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's 5th wife was incarcerated there on her way to prison and execution at the Tower of London in 1542.
In 1547 the body of King Henry VIII lay for a night in the abbey church on it's way to Windsor for burial and fulfilled a gruesome prophecy from a Franciscan Friar William Peto in 1535. A dog was found licking up certain remains that had leaked from the coffin, yeuk!
The Duke of Northumberland proclaimed Lady Jane Grey as the true monarch at Syon following Henry's death. Nine days later Mary had the throne and Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower the following year.
Tudor History Tours visits Syon at the start of the Six wives of One king tour in May and September.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Syon House plays a large part in the Tudor century. It became Crown Property in 1539 after the suppression of the Abbey. Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's 5th wife was incarcerated there on her way to prison and execution at the Tower of London in 1542.
In 1547 the body of King Henry VIII lay for a night in the abbey church on it's way to Windsor for burial and fulfilled a gruesome prophecy from a Franciscan Friar William Peto in 1535. A dog was found licking up certain remains that had leaked from the coffin, yeuk!
The Duke of Northumberland proclaimed Lady Jane Grey as the true monarch at Syon following Henry's death. Nine days later Mary had the throne and Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower the following year.
Tudor History Tours visits Syon at the start of the Six wives of One king tour in May and September.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Friday, 26 February 2010
Inside the Body of Henry VIII
There was an excellent program on the History Channel this week called Inside the Body of Henry VIII.
It was made last year and presented by historian Robert Hutchinson, medical historian Steve Bacon(see our blog on the Parham House study day23 September 2009)with Dr Lucy Worsley and Dr Catherine Hood.
The program looked at the health of Henry from his childhood up to his death and Henry was a tough character indeed. He was exposed to tuberculosis when young, he contracted smallpox and malaria during his lfe, and had a head injury whilst jousting when younger.
What finally made him give up jousting was the accident that knocked him unconcious for two hours in January 1536, he was 45 years old at the time, what was he doing on a horse in armour at that age? It was from this second head injury that his moods began to change and he became the tyrant and despot that history remembers him by.
The accident was gruesomely recreated by dropping at 1500lb weight from 14 feet in the air onto the carcass of a pig, yuk!
From this accident, the King did not take any more exercise but cointinued to eat as much as 5,000 calories a day and was 28(178Kilos) stone when he died, he also showed all the symptons of late onset type 2 diabetes. Lucy went round a supermarket and gathered up a typical week's food for the king, there was lots of it and plenty of alchohol too.
Robert and Steve dismissed the notion that Henry had Syphilis, there is simply no evidence in the household accounts for the purchase of any mercury which was the only recognised cure for the disease at the time and there were also no medical notes in the physicians reports either of treatment for external sores that characterises the disease.
The CGI graphics of the autopsy on the body were excellent and revealing, all in all a very well researched and presented program and well worth watching.
There was no mention of the Cushings syndrome theory(see our blog again) I must ask Robert about that the next time I see him.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It was made last year and presented by historian Robert Hutchinson, medical historian Steve Bacon(see our blog on the Parham House study day23 September 2009)with Dr Lucy Worsley and Dr Catherine Hood.
The program looked at the health of Henry from his childhood up to his death and Henry was a tough character indeed. He was exposed to tuberculosis when young, he contracted smallpox and malaria during his lfe, and had a head injury whilst jousting when younger.
What finally made him give up jousting was the accident that knocked him unconcious for two hours in January 1536, he was 45 years old at the time, what was he doing on a horse in armour at that age? It was from this second head injury that his moods began to change and he became the tyrant and despot that history remembers him by.
The accident was gruesomely recreated by dropping at 1500lb weight from 14 feet in the air onto the carcass of a pig, yuk!
From this accident, the King did not take any more exercise but cointinued to eat as much as 5,000 calories a day and was 28(178Kilos) stone when he died, he also showed all the symptons of late onset type 2 diabetes. Lucy went round a supermarket and gathered up a typical week's food for the king, there was lots of it and plenty of alchohol too.
Robert and Steve dismissed the notion that Henry had Syphilis, there is simply no evidence in the household accounts for the purchase of any mercury which was the only recognised cure for the disease at the time and there were also no medical notes in the physicians reports either of treatment for external sores that characterises the disease.
The CGI graphics of the autopsy on the body were excellent and revealing, all in all a very well researched and presented program and well worth watching.
There was no mention of the Cushings syndrome theory(see our blog again) I must ask Robert about that the next time I see him.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Mary Queen of Scots
18 Febraury 1587 on this day, Mary Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringay castle and was buried at Peterborough Cathedral. The same grave digger performed the duty 50 years after he interred Catherine of Aragon. It was a grand death as Mary was dressed in a vivid crimson silk bodice and petticoat, the colour of martyrs. She gave a speech in defence of her catholic faith before putting her head on the block.
She had been a thorn in the side of her cousin Elizabeth for nearly 20 years constantly involved in plots to either get back her Scottish crown or usurp the throne of England. Elizabeth vacillated for so long before signing the death warrant and was said to be distraught when told that the deed was done.
Mary must be having the last laugh as when her son James I became King on the death of Elizabeth, he had her remains taken from Peterborough and placed in Westminster Abbey in a much grander tomb than Elizabeth's at the Abbey. It is also worth remembering that our present Soveriegn is decended from Mary as the Tudor dynasty ended with Elizabeth.
Peterborough Cathedral is on the tour itinerary of our Six Wives of one King tour.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
She had been a thorn in the side of her cousin Elizabeth for nearly 20 years constantly involved in plots to either get back her Scottish crown or usurp the throne of England. Elizabeth vacillated for so long before signing the death warrant and was said to be distraught when told that the deed was done.
Mary must be having the last laugh as when her son James I became King on the death of Elizabeth, he had her remains taken from Peterborough and placed in Westminster Abbey in a much grander tomb than Elizabeth's at the Abbey. It is also worth remembering that our present Soveriegn is decended from Mary as the Tudor dynasty ended with Elizabeth.
Peterborough Cathedral is on the tour itinerary of our Six Wives of one King tour.
http://www.tudorhistorytours.com/
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest in England after Canterbury, founded in 604 by Bishop Justus. Rochester lies on the direct route from London to Dover and overlooking the Cathedral is the mighty Norman keep of Rochester castle, besieged by King John in 1215. The present Knave dates from Norman times and is built of stone imported from Caen, the home of William the Conqueror in 1086.
Amung its many memorials is one to Charles Dickens who mentions the Cathedral in his writing, there is also Colonel John Chard VC Royal Engineers, hero of the battle of Rorkes drift in the Zulu wars.
The Cathedral plays a prominant role in the Tudor story, with not one but two of it's bishops becoming martyrs after being executed by the monarch. Bishop Fisher, stalwart defender of King Henry's first wife Catherine of Aragon, was beheaded 22 June 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII for refusing to acknowledge that the King was head of the Church in England. Bishop Fisher died as a catholic, curiously Bishop Ridley died as a Protestant, executed by Mary 20 years later 16 October 1555. Ridley was burnt at the stake during Bloody Mary's reign of terror against protestants and he had the double misfortune to have supported Lady Jane Grey during her 9 days as Queen.
Henry VIII first met Anne of Cleves here in the Bishops Palace within the precincts of the Cathedral, that meeting led to Henry saying "I like her not!" but was it him that said the she was the flanders mare? That line probably came much later on. (see our blog of 27 December). The Cathedral holds Tudor festivals with music and dancing from the period and of course Henry gets to meet with Anne again.
Tudor History Tours visits Rochester during the Elizabeth I tours on four occasions during this year. See our tour program on our website for further details.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Amung its many memorials is one to Charles Dickens who mentions the Cathedral in his writing, there is also Colonel John Chard VC Royal Engineers, hero of the battle of Rorkes drift in the Zulu wars.
The Cathedral plays a prominant role in the Tudor story, with not one but two of it's bishops becoming martyrs after being executed by the monarch. Bishop Fisher, stalwart defender of King Henry's first wife Catherine of Aragon, was beheaded 22 June 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII for refusing to acknowledge that the King was head of the Church in England. Bishop Fisher died as a catholic, curiously Bishop Ridley died as a Protestant, executed by Mary 20 years later 16 October 1555. Ridley was burnt at the stake during Bloody Mary's reign of terror against protestants and he had the double misfortune to have supported Lady Jane Grey during her 9 days as Queen.
Henry VIII first met Anne of Cleves here in the Bishops Palace within the precincts of the Cathedral, that meeting led to Henry saying "I like her not!" but was it him that said the she was the flanders mare? That line probably came much later on. (see our blog of 27 December). The Cathedral holds Tudor festivals with music and dancing from the period and of course Henry gets to meet with Anne again.
Tudor History Tours visits Rochester during the Elizabeth I tours on four occasions during this year. See our tour program on our website for further details.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace, the boyhood home of Henry VIII and what a truly unique place it is. It's really two palaces in one seamlessly joined together, but you step from one world to another in the blink of an eye.
It is the first place ever that I have been instructed to put on blue plastic overshoes before entering to protect the floors. Recorded in the Domesday book of 1086 as being owned by Bishop Odo the half brother of William the Conqueror. The Palace has changed hands many times, it was owned by Edward II from 1305 and Charles I was the last king to visit here. After the Civil War the place began to decay and fell into a state if decline and disrepair.
The Palace was largely rebuilt in the 1930's by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in a magnificent Art Deco style with some incredible marquetry inlaid panels and the master bedroom has hand painted relief wall paper that would make you feel like you were sleeping in Kew gardens.
Step through a doorway into the Great Hall and you are transported back over 500 years to when it was built in 1480. The Hammerbeam roof was the third largest built at the time after Westminster Hall and Hampton Court Palace. It was lucky to survive a direct hit from a German bomb in 1940, you can still see the scorch marks on the minstrel gallery floor.
Half a dozen gardeners were hard at work preparing the grounds for the spring, when the place will be a blaze of colour. Much of the Old Palace ruins can still be seen within the grounds especially along by the sunken rose garden. With the bridge crossing the moat you can easily imagine Henry VIII as a boy fishing for the huge carp that lazily swim there.
A really remarkable place and I look forward to the spring time when the weather is warmer and the gardens are in full bloom.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It is the first place ever that I have been instructed to put on blue plastic overshoes before entering to protect the floors. Recorded in the Domesday book of 1086 as being owned by Bishop Odo the half brother of William the Conqueror. The Palace has changed hands many times, it was owned by Edward II from 1305 and Charles I was the last king to visit here. After the Civil War the place began to decay and fell into a state if decline and disrepair.
The Palace was largely rebuilt in the 1930's by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld in a magnificent Art Deco style with some incredible marquetry inlaid panels and the master bedroom has hand painted relief wall paper that would make you feel like you were sleeping in Kew gardens.
Step through a doorway into the Great Hall and you are transported back over 500 years to when it was built in 1480. The Hammerbeam roof was the third largest built at the time after Westminster Hall and Hampton Court Palace. It was lucky to survive a direct hit from a German bomb in 1940, you can still see the scorch marks on the minstrel gallery floor.
Half a dozen gardeners were hard at work preparing the grounds for the spring, when the place will be a blaze of colour. Much of the Old Palace ruins can still be seen within the grounds especially along by the sunken rose garden. With the bridge crossing the moat you can easily imagine Henry VIII as a boy fishing for the huge carp that lazily swim there.
A really remarkable place and I look forward to the spring time when the weather is warmer and the gardens are in full bloom.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Monday, 1 February 2010
Don't lose your head
On January 30th 1649 Charles I parted company with his head. The Tudor connection here is that he was born in 1599 when Elizabeth was still on the Throne of England and it was Charles's father James I that followed her onto the throne.
It's incredible to think that after Elizabeth reigned for 45 years, it took less than that time, less that two generations, for the country to tear itself to pieces in a civil war. Even more incredible is that the after being King for 24 years Charles should lose his head after losing the war.
Curiously, long before 1649 when the population was more religious and more superstitious, it was considered horrendous bad luck if Lady Day 25th March ( the annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the Christ Child 9 months later) fell at Easter. The last time that happend was...1649. Check your diaries we're OK this year.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It's incredible to think that after Elizabeth reigned for 45 years, it took less than that time, less that two generations, for the country to tear itself to pieces in a civil war. Even more incredible is that the after being King for 24 years Charles should lose his head after losing the war.
Curiously, long before 1649 when the population was more religious and more superstitious, it was considered horrendous bad luck if Lady Day 25th March ( the annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the Christ Child 9 months later) fell at Easter. The last time that happend was...1649. Check your diaries we're OK this year.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
The Staffordshire Hoard
GOLD and lots of it!!
Went to the British Museum yesterday for some research, but got distracted by the Staffordshire Hoard. A truly amazing find of over 1500 pieces of gold and silver dating from 600-700 AD and found by a amateur metal detectorist in a field in the middle of England. Ok not Tudor but never-the-less worth mentioning. The pieces on display are simply incredible, the workmanship of the gold with garnets inlaid together with enamel designs. Getting up close and personal with such a find was a truly mouth open experience. The pieces still haven't been cleaned of dirt yet because there is so much of it and it will take at least a year to evaluate it all. In all the weight is more than eleven pounds of gold and three pounds of silver, all hidden in the ground probably,left there by somebody fleeing a battle 1300 years ago.
Worth a look if you are in London.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Went to the British Museum yesterday for some research, but got distracted by the Staffordshire Hoard. A truly amazing find of over 1500 pieces of gold and silver dating from 600-700 AD and found by a amateur metal detectorist in a field in the middle of England. Ok not Tudor but never-the-less worth mentioning. The pieces on display are simply incredible, the workmanship of the gold with garnets inlaid together with enamel designs. Getting up close and personal with such a find was a truly mouth open experience. The pieces still haven't been cleaned of dirt yet because there is so much of it and it will take at least a year to evaluate it all. In all the weight is more than eleven pounds of gold and three pounds of silver, all hidden in the ground probably,left there by somebody fleeing a battle 1300 years ago.
Worth a look if you are in London.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Friday, 8 January 2010
St Peters Church Firle
Nestling at the foot of Firle Beacon on the south downs lies St Peters Church in Firle village very close to Firle Place the ancestral home of the Gage family.
It's a flint built 13th Century Church but evidence suggest that the present site is much older, even before 1066.
There are 3 Alabaster tombs with effigies dating from 1595 in the Knave and contain, John Gage(1556) and his wife Phillipa, he was constable of the Tower of London and responsible for planning the execution of Catherine Howard.
His son Edward (d1569)and his wife Elizabeth, he was responsible for planning the burning at the stake the protestant martyrs in Lewes during the reign of Mary Tudor. Edward had two wives, 9 sons and 5 daughters, a very busy man!.
Lastly another John (1595) grandson of the first John, he had two wives too but not such gory credentials. Also buried in the family plot is Thomas Gage, he of the American war of Independence fame or infamy because he had a bit of a failure and was replaced. Firle is one of the places we visit on our tours.
The church has a list of the parish vicars dating from 1197. There is also a John Piper window installed in 1985 in homage to William Blake's Book of Job in memory of Henry 6th Viscount gage and depicts the tree of life in heavenly Jerusalem.
Today would have been Elvis Prestley's 75th Birthday if he was still alive. I mention this because there is a gargolye of Elvis at Canterbury Cathedral. Really there is, one of the stone masons a few years ago was an Elvis fan and chisseled the likeness on a replacement stone gargolye during renovations and it's still there high on the roof.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It's a flint built 13th Century Church but evidence suggest that the present site is much older, even before 1066.
There are 3 Alabaster tombs with effigies dating from 1595 in the Knave and contain, John Gage(1556) and his wife Phillipa, he was constable of the Tower of London and responsible for planning the execution of Catherine Howard.
His son Edward (d1569)and his wife Elizabeth, he was responsible for planning the burning at the stake the protestant martyrs in Lewes during the reign of Mary Tudor. Edward had two wives, 9 sons and 5 daughters, a very busy man!.
Lastly another John (1595) grandson of the first John, he had two wives too but not such gory credentials. Also buried in the family plot is Thomas Gage, he of the American war of Independence fame or infamy because he had a bit of a failure and was replaced. Firle is one of the places we visit on our tours.
The church has a list of the parish vicars dating from 1197. There is also a John Piper window installed in 1985 in homage to William Blake's Book of Job in memory of Henry 6th Viscount gage and depicts the tree of life in heavenly Jerusalem.
Today would have been Elvis Prestley's 75th Birthday if he was still alive. I mention this because there is a gargolye of Elvis at Canterbury Cathedral. Really there is, one of the stone masons a few years ago was an Elvis fan and chisseled the likeness on a replacement stone gargolye during renovations and it's still there high on the roof.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
Monday, 4 January 2010
Tower of London
The discovery Channel over the last weekend was turned over completely to the Tower of London. A series of hour long programs looking at the Tower, it's history and it's people.
It is the most visited historic site in the country and has something for everyone.
It was fascinating to learn that the Yeoman of the Guard have a intense training period before they can be let loose on the general public. The Red uniforms they wear as seen on the home page of our web site,date back to Henry VII and they cost over £7,000 each with all that gold braid.
The challenge to the Queens Keys is the longest running military ceremony in the world. At 10pm precisely every night the shout goes out from a young sentry " Halt- who comes there?" only once in the last few hundred years has it been delayed. During the WWII Blitz a bomb landed within the Tower and blew the escort and Yeoman off their feet. The governor to the Tower wrote an appolgy to the King who replied that under the circumstances the officer should not face any punishment.
The Tower holds many historic features including the Crown Jewels that were once stolen by a Colonel Blood in 1637, a very interesting plot because he was pardoned by King Charles II. Who would want to be the person that actually gets to cleam them?
The Tower was also a very famous prison holding many historic and imfamous people right up to after the second world war. It even held the Kray twins ( for readers not from the UK the Kray Twins were notorious gangsters from London in the 1950's and 60's).
Once a year at low tide people are allowed on the river foreshore to scavenge amung what was the Tower rubbish dump for centuries. The piles of rubbish reveals some surprising finds like a gilded spur or a medieval door lock or a tile or a piece of masonary centuries old.
Lets hope that the discovery channel reapaets the series soon.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
It is the most visited historic site in the country and has something for everyone.
It was fascinating to learn that the Yeoman of the Guard have a intense training period before they can be let loose on the general public. The Red uniforms they wear as seen on the home page of our web site,date back to Henry VII and they cost over £7,000 each with all that gold braid.
The challenge to the Queens Keys is the longest running military ceremony in the world. At 10pm precisely every night the shout goes out from a young sentry " Halt- who comes there?" only once in the last few hundred years has it been delayed. During the WWII Blitz a bomb landed within the Tower and blew the escort and Yeoman off their feet. The governor to the Tower wrote an appolgy to the King who replied that under the circumstances the officer should not face any punishment.
The Tower holds many historic features including the Crown Jewels that were once stolen by a Colonel Blood in 1637, a very interesting plot because he was pardoned by King Charles II. Who would want to be the person that actually gets to cleam them?
The Tower was also a very famous prison holding many historic and imfamous people right up to after the second world war. It even held the Kray twins ( for readers not from the UK the Kray Twins were notorious gangsters from London in the 1950's and 60's).
Once a year at low tide people are allowed on the river foreshore to scavenge amung what was the Tower rubbish dump for centuries. The piles of rubbish reveals some surprising finds like a gilded spur or a medieval door lock or a tile or a piece of masonary centuries old.
Lets hope that the discovery channel reapaets the series soon.
www.tudorhistorytours.com
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