Yesterday, the adjectives changed from amazing to interesting as we visited Michelam Priory and the county town of Lewes, where there is Anne of Cleves house and Lewes Priory.
First though we diverted slightly and stopped at Pooh Corner on Ashdown Forest the home of Winnie the Pooh. All the places in the childrens books are real and exist, Owls house, the heffalump trap and especially Pooh Bridge where yes we did play pooh sticks!
On to Tudor matters, Michelam Priory in Sussex is a lovely little place that was built pre Tudor and was appropriated by Thomas Cromwell because he liked it, so he didn't blow it up, latterly Anne of Cleves received the rents from the place. She also received a good income from her house in Lewes. Anne of Cleves house is an old Weald hall timbered house. It was closed for a while because Sussex Past have carrying out some conservation works but it's now open and in good reapir.
Lewes Priory on the other hand was particulary singled out by Cromwell, he engaged an Italian Engineer to blow the place up completely and left a pile of rubble. The ruins have been stabilised and are now open again with new information boards.
We had a very informative and interesting talk in the evening by Hands on History, who brought some armour and weapons to hold and try out, together with other artifacts from beeswax and horn to a 14th century Psalter, a hand written prayer book, we have seen them in glass cases all week but we got to to touch and smell the parchment. very interesting!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment