buildings
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St Cuthbert was one of Richard’s favoured saints, being associated with the north of England, but who was he? Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (c. 634/5 – 20 March 687) was a saint of the early Northumbrian church. He was a monk, bishop and hermit, associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in Northumbria, today in northern…
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We all take for granted that the hammerbeam roof of Westminster Hall (see https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/architecture/the-hammer-beam-roof-/) is a true masterpiece of medieval workmanship and innovation. Many of us know that the transformation of the (then) huge building was at the instigation of Richard II. But how many of us know of a painting that captures a fleeting…
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High on a cliff on the Isle of Portland near Weymouth , Dorset (not really an island; it’s joined to the land by a long causeway) stands the battered block of an ancient castle looking out across the waves. It is privately owned, so not accessible for touring , but it is clearly visible from…
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In rural Berkshire stands the little stone church of Aldworth. What makes this church remarkable is the numerous medieval effigies contained within, memorials to an important family with the surname ‘de la Beche’. Over the years, these effigies got called the ‘Aldworth giants’ and became something of a local attraction. Was there any truth to…
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If you go to this link https://tinyurl.com/5t4nyjfb, from which the above photograph is taken, you’ll learn of the following: “….The 2025 Season of monthly history talks and guided tours of St Matthew’s Church at Coldridge [Devon] re-start on Thursday, February 27…. “….Two tours will be held on the day, bookable in advance, starting at 11am…
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Click here for article The above link takes you to the whole story. It concerns King Harold II aka Harold Godwinson, my other favourite king, who had a lot in common with his descendant, Richard (see my previous post regarding this). They appear to have located the home of the king, often suspected of being…
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The above publication (link to home page https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015069006610&view=1up&seq=9&skin=2021) is full of interesting information about the London of the past, although I advise caution when it comes to the “facts” printed therein. While researching the royal residence in the city, known as Tower Royal or the Queen’s Wardrobe, I happened upon this on page 62:- The…
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Thomas Earl of Lancaster, died 22 March 1322, and Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence, died 22 March 1321 … The former, the grandson of Henry III, was executed at Pontefract, having fought at Boroughbridge in opposition to Edward II and the Despensers. The latter, the second son of Henry IV and great-great-great-nephew of his…
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A lodge is now generally understood as a small house at an entrance to a stately home, formerly occupied by a man or woman whose job it was to open the park gates for legitimate users and exclude the – er – riff-raff. Some houses have (or had) several lodges as the house had several…
The New Murrey and Blue blog 