archaeology

Barley Hall, the Alderman’s House

Sep 12, 2020

archaeology, buildings

Alderman’s House, Barley Hall, Maurice Barley, Priory Nostell House, William Carter, William Snawsell, York, York Archaelogical Trust

There is a Building in York where you can go back in time to 1483. It is situated in the City centre, no 2, Coffee Yard. You may access it from there, or from a small alley in Stonegate. This Building is now known as Barley Hall. The story of this mansion is fascinating, and…
An Irishman abroad but not for much longer?

Sep 10, 2020

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, genealogy, religion, Science

biographies, builders, Chapel of Marvels, Chieftains of Tyrconnell, Christopher Columbus, Curlew Pass, Darren McGettigan, Donegal, Earls of Tyrone, Franciscans, Hugh O’Neill, Ireland, Irish News, Kinsale, Leicester, love songs, missing feet, music, Nine Years’ War, October birthdays, parallels, Phillip III, rebellion, Red Hugh O’Donnell, Richard III, Richard Tyrrel, Simancas, Spain, Ulster, Valladolid, Yellow Ford

“Red” Hugh O’Donnell (1572-1602) was an Irish chieftain who fought a series of battles against English armies between 1595 and the beginning of 1602 (during the Nine Years’ War which actually ran from 1593 to 1603), one of his less successful opponents being the Earl of Essex. O’Donnell ruled Tir Chonaill in the extreme north-west…
London’s first playhouse rediscovered….?

Sep 8, 2020

archaeology, buildings, culture, heraldry, The play’s the thing

Howards, John Brayne, London, Red Lion playhouse, Richard Burbage, The Globe, theatres, University College London, Whitechapel

Well, it just goes to show that although the past may now be buried far underground, now and then it still comes to light to thrill us all. Now it seems they’ve discovered the site of the Red Lion, “the earliest known attempt to build a playhouse in the Tudor era, a precursor to the…
Richard III owned religious books, but slept around….?

Sep 4, 2020

archaeology, battles, religion, sources

“Princes”, Carole Cusack, character, Charles Armstrong, Crowland Chronicle, Domenico Mancini, Henry VI, illegitimate children, Leicester dig, military record, popes, Richard III

Yes, we’ve all seen the above illustration before, but for my purposes today it’s ideal. Was Richard a saint? Or a sinner? I’ve happened upon a very interesting paper about Richard, by Carole Cusack, in which she discusses his reputation and why he still has the power to influence us today. Just what is it…
A rogue detectorist strikes at Fotheringhay….!

Sep 3, 2020

archaeology, buildings

executions, Fotheringhay, Mary Stuart, metal detecting, nighthawks, Richard III

“….A man with a metal detector was spoken to just hours before two holes were dug at the East Northamptonshire site where Mary, Queen of Scots was tried and executed. “….An investigation has been launched after the criminal incident within the grounds of Fotheringhay Castle – which is protected as a scheduled monument – overnight…
Now Richard’s bones “suggest….[he] was a control freak who had a friendly face”….!

Aug 28, 2020

archaeology

“Tudor” propaganda, bones, character, Leicester dig, Richard III, scoliosis

Well, for idiotic claims, this one about takes the biscuit! How on earth can the examination of Richard III’s centuries-old remains tell anyone he was a control freak? Or that he was friendly? Yes, a reconstruction from his skull has proved he was good-looking, but that’s not the same as “friendly”. Mind you, as medieval…
York’s “Viking” tourism is recovering, but not yet for Richard….

Aug 24, 2020

archaeology, buildings, Events

Jorvik, monk Bar, Richard III Experience, York, York Archaelogical Trust

York Archaeological Trust says “….’Limiting admission numbers has probably had the most significant impact on our performance, but we have extended our opening hours at JORVIK Viking Centre throughout the school holidays, opening an hour earlier at 9am and closing at 8pm seven days a week’….” The Viking Centre is able to accommodate the required…
Thomas More and the Removal Men

Aug 23, 2020

archaeology, battles, buildings, sources

“Princes”, Barnard Castle, Battle of Bosworth, Dighton, Edward of Middleham, energetic priest, fantasy, Garden Tower, John Greene, John Stow, Miles Forest, Minster Lovell, Polydore Vergil, rescue plot, Richard III, Sir James Tyrrell, Sir Robert Brackenbury, Thomas Basin, Thomas More, Tyrrell “confession”, Warwick, Will Slaughter

Thomas More’s detailed and heart-wrenching account of the murders of Edward IV’s sons is well known, and is usually either accepted or dismissed in toto so it would probably be useful to pause at this point to remind ourselves exactly what it was that Thomas More claimed had happened to the boys and why opinions…
Richard’s first resting place – recreated

Aug 22, 2020

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, religion

Battle of Bosworth, CAD, Constanza of Castile, de Montfort University, Hawthorn Building, Hospital of the Annunciation, Lady Mary Hervey, Leicester Greyfriars, Mary de Bohun, Newarke Church, paint analysis, Richard III

Five years ago, we wrote about the lost Newarke Church in the Hospital of the Annunciation, where Richard lay for two days between his death and burial in the Greyfriars. As we said, the site is now occupied by the Hawthorn Building of de Montfort University, although these two original arches have been integrated. Here…
More on More

Aug 17, 2020

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, law, religion, sources

“Tudor” propaganda, Barnard Castle, Battle of Bosworth, Calendar of Patent Rolls, deception, Edward V, Forrest, Garden Tower, Harleian Manuscript 433, John Greene, Marmions, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, Sir James Tyrrell, Sir Robert Brackenbury, Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Dighton, Thomas More, Westminster Abbey, Will Slaughter

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”(Marmion, Sir Walter Scott) We all know that there was some deception in Thomas More‘s “History“, but how much? In Cairo, they think that the whole first half of his narrative is the gospel truth but the second half is an invention –…