archaeology

If the boys’ remains were never found at the Tower, what’s in the urn in Westminster Abbey. . . .?

Jul 14, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, genealogy, Science

“Princes”, Ravenmaster, Richard III, royal mysteries, Tower of London, urn, Westminster Abbey

Now then, I think the Tower of London ought to have a quiet word with Westminster Abbey, because if the boys’ remains have never been found – what’s in That Urn? And by the time they supposedly disappeared, Richard was King, not merely Duke of Gloucester. “…One of the Tower’s greatest mysteries is the lost…
Second Verdict

Jul 13, 2018

archaeology, buildings, genealogy, Science, television reviews

“Princes”, drama, Frank Windsor, Garden Tower, Second Verdict, Stratford Johns, Tower of London

This is Stratford Johns, who featured heavily in Z-Cars and Softly, Softly. In spring 1976, with his co-star Frank Windsor, their characters appeared in Second Verdict, investigating six mysteries, of which the “Princes” were the second. It should be possible to locate a recording of this programme.
Strong jaws for George and Richard…?

Jul 11, 2018

archaeology, art, genealogy

facial resemblance, George Duke of Clarence, Leicester, Richard III

This is an aside really. But although this above picture of George of Clarence isn’t contemporary, I can’t help noticing that the general shape of the face, especially the jaw, is very like Richard as we now know him from the discovery in Leicester. Were these York brothers known for their strong jaws? George’s last…
When ten royal tombs were opened….

Jul 8, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, buildings, Science

Anne Boleyn, Catherine de Valois, Charles I, Edward I, Edward IV, Edward V, Edward VI, John, Richard II, royal tombs, St. Edward the Confessor, St. george’s Chapel, St. Peter ad Vincula, Westminster Abbey, Worcester Cathedral

This article about what was found in ten royal tombs is interesting because of the descriptions. Not that I would have liked to see Edward IV in his 3″ of goo….
The royal palace at Kennington….

Jul 1, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, buildings

de Warenne, Duchy of Cornwall, Edward II, Edward III, Edward the Black Prince, excavations, Henry VIII, Kennington Palace, Lambeth, Richard II, stables, Whitehall

The royal palace of Kennington is all but forgotten now, but for those interested in the mediaeval period it is perhaps most noteworthy for its association with Edward III, the Black Prince and Richard II. The buildings they knew vanished in 1531, at the hands of that arch-demolisher, Henry VIII, and illustrations of the…
THE CARMELITE FRIARY OF NORWICH KNOWN AS WHITEFRIARS – BURIAL PLACE OF ELEANOR TALBOT

Jun 30, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, law, religion

Arminghall Arch, bigamy, Blackfriars, burials, Carmelite Priory, Edward IV, Elizabeth Wydeville, feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, friaries, George Plunkett, Henry VI, Henry VII, John Ashdown-Hill, John Earl of Shrewsbury, John Kenninghale, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Lady Elizabeth Talbot, Margaret Beauchamp, marriage, Norwich, Norwich Magistrates Court, Philip de Cowgate, pre-contract, Ralph Butler Baron Sudeley, Reformation, Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, Russell Colman, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Earl of Surrey, Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Towton

UPDATED POST ON sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/the-carmelite-friary-of-norwich-known-as-whitefriars-burial-place-of-eleanor-talbot/ COWGATE NORWICH, DAVID HODGSON c.1860. WHITEFRIARS STOOD ON THE EASTERN SIDE BETWEEN THE CHURCH OF ST JAMES POCKTHORPE (SEEN ABOVE) AND THE RIVER A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY..NORWICH MUSEUM On this day, 30 June, died Eleanor Butler nee Talbot. Eleanor came from an illustrious family. Her father was…
The Maligned Queen in the Car Park

Jun 22, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, buildings, religion

Amesbury Abbey, Arthur Plantagenet, car parks, Eleanor of Brittany, Eleanor of Provence, Geoffrey Plantagenet, Henry III, Inigo Jones, London Bridge, St. Melor’s

Added to the list of monarchs and notables found or potentially to be found beneath car parks, tennis courts, and other such mundane places must be the Queen of Henry III, Eleanor of Provence. Buried in Amesbury Priory after her body was kept in ‘storage’ by the nuns for two months while her son, Edward…
THE LOST FONT OF MARLBOROUGH CASTLE

Jun 20, 2018

archaeology, buildings, travel

anarchy, castles, churches, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Edward VI, Eleanor of Brittany, Eleanor of Provence, fonts, Henry III, Isabella of Angouleme, John, Marlborough Castle, Marlborough College, Richard I, Seymours, Silbury Hill, St. Nicholas, Stephen, William I, Worcester Cathedral

Marlborough is a quaint little town in Wiltshire. It has a rather famous College (once attended by Kate Middleton) but no buildings dating much before Tudor times other than two heavily restored churches. However, it used to have a castle, and a rather important one too. The first castle was built by William the Conqueror…
Yet another treasure buried beneath Leicester….

Jun 2, 2018

archaeology, Science

Leicester, Roman remains

But this time it is not a king, instead a magnificent Roman mosaic floor has been discovered under an apartment block. The plan is to lift it and eventually put it on display in Leicester. To read all about it, go here.
Developments at Sutton Hoo

May 28, 2018

archaeology, buildings, genealogy

Anglo-Saxons, Basil Brown, East Anglia, Edith Pretty, Heritage Lottery Fund, Raedwald, Sutton Hoo, Wuffings

This East Anglian Daily Times article reveals that Sutton Hoo, almost certainly the burial of Raedwald, the Wuffing King of East Anglia who was Richard III’s collateral ancestor, will be the subject of its first major dig for nearly thirty years. A new viewing tower (left) will be installed during the process, between May 29th…