buildings

A fully-functioning iron hand from the early 16th century….

Jul 23, 2022

anniversaries, battles, buildings, Science

blacksmiths, disability, Gotz von Berlichingen, Jagsthauzen Castle, mercenaries, prosthetic hands

We’re inclined to view fully functioning prosthetic hands and so on as a modern invention. The fruits of our ever-advancing society. But we aren’t the originators. Of course, prosthetics go back a very long time, e.g. a wooden toe survives from Ancient Egypt, but the fully functioning part also goes back a fair way.…
From blacksmithing to stretching the history of Buckingham Palace…..

Jul 22, 2022

buildings, genealogy, television reviews

anachronisms, blacksmiths, Household Cavalry, Jim Moir, The Prince’s Master Crafters

I’ve been watching the interesting Sky series The Prince’s Master Crafters, about ancient skills that are in danger of disappearing. This week it was the turn of blacksmithing, and it has to be said that the ladies among the contestants weren’t very happy bashing metal and managing fire. However, that wasn’t what caught my attention.…
IPSWICH IN MEDIEVAL MINIATURE

Jul 20, 2022

art, buildings, Events, religion

Colin Patten, heritage walk, Ipswich, John Speed, models, past maps, Reformation, Waterford

Some people create just for fun, others to have fun AND to inform. Suffolk modelmaker Colin Patten plans to do both in a large-scale model of the entire town of Ipswich in late medieval times, before the abbeys and priories were swept away in the Reformation. Mr Patten has already done a similar model of…
Medieval Jewish Settlements in Oxford

Jul 18, 2022

anniversaries, archaeology, buildings, religion

blood libel, Clifford’s Tower, crusaders, edict of expulsion, Edward I, excavations, Jew’s House Oxford, Jewish community, moneylenders, Oxford, Oxford colleges, Passover, pogroms, Roman walls, Siege of Oxford, St. Aldates, The Anarchy, William I, York

Originally posted on Giaconda's Blog: The Crypt at Oxford Castle – built on Anglo-Saxon foundations The first Jewish settlers arrived in Oxford not long after the Norman Conquest, around 1075AD residing in the commercial heart of the city at St Aldates which became known as Great Jewry Street, close to the original C8th oxen ford…
Athelstan–Our Greatest Monarch?

Jul 17, 2022

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, genealogy, law, religion

“The last Kingdom”, Alfred, Anglo-Saxons, Athelstan, Bernard Cornwell, books, Brunaburh, Cheshire, Constantine II, Dissolution of the Monasteries, Eadgyth, Edward the Elder, Elizabeth I, Germany, House of Wessex, illegitimacy rumours, legal reforms, Malmesbury Abbey, novels, piety, royal burials, Scotland, St. Aldhelm, St. Cuthbert, Tom Holland, Venerable Bede, Vikings, York

A recent poll searching for Britain’s ‘Greatest Monarch’, came up with the surprise winner of… drum roll, King Athelstan. Not that the Anglo-Saxon king wasn’t so great, but the winner is a little surprising since most people seem to have believed the ‘crown’ would go to Elizabeth I. (Yawn!) I hope the voters actually remembered…
William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke

Jul 16, 2022

anniversaries, battles, buildings, genealogy, sources

Aberystwyth, Azincourt, Barry, Carmarthen Castle, Catherine de Valois, Civil War, Dafydd Gam, Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Edward IV, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Glamorgan, Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam, Henry V, Henry VI, Henry VII, Humphrey Stafford Earl of Devon, Hundred Years War, Jasper “Tudor”, Lancastrians, Lordship of Usk, Matilda Barri, Morleys of Norfolk, Mortimers, Northampton, ODNB, Owain Glyndwr, Owen Tudor, Pembroke Castle, Raglan Castle, Ralph Griffiths, ransom, Richard III, Richard of Warwick, Robin of Redesdale, Sheriff of Glamorgan, Sir John Morley, Sir William ap Thomas, Wales, William Herbert Earl of Pembroke, William I, Yellow Tower of GwentWilliam Lord Berkeley

William Herbert, otherwise ‘Black William’ was born in 1423, the son of Sir William ap Thomas ‘the Blue Knight of Gwent’ and Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam the ‘Star of Abergavenny’. His main claim to fame is that he was the first Welshman to become an earl in the peerage of England, except for Henry VI’s…
A medieval tournament at Arundel Castle….

Jul 15, 2022

battles, buildings, Events

Arundel Castle, tournaments

Well here’s something exciting and diverting for high summer this year—a great tournament at Arundel Castle. This event will take place from 26-31 July and looks set to be a wonderful recreation of a medieval tournament. All sorts of diversions and goodies (see the above link for many, many photographs) are on offer and I’m…
Richard III’s boar badge found at Chiddingly manor house in 1999….

Jul 13, 2022

archaeology, art, battles, buildings, Science

boars, British Museum, Chiddingly, country houses, metal detecting, noblemen, Richard III, silver, Sussex

“….in 1999 a metal detectorist made an extraordinary find that’s become known as the Chiddingly Boar: ‘The white boar badge was used by Richard III’s household and followers between 1472 and 1485,’ the British Museum explain on their website of the hat badge that is now in their collection….” “….The boar was Richard’s symbol, and thousands…
Bolingbroke gets the bird….!

Jul 11, 2022

anniversaries, buildings, sources

Easthampstead, H.F.M. Prescott, Holy Land, Ian Mortimer, parrots, research, The Fears of Henry IV

As a background to this tale of research misery, I should say that between 26th June and 11th July 1393 Richard II and his court were at Easthampstead, Bracknell in Berkshire. Richard’s first cousin Henry of Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby, son and heir of John of Gaunt, was on a reise to Prussia. Little love…
Richard III is third, Edward V is second….

Jul 10, 2022

anniversaries, buildings, genealogy, law, religion, sources

“Tudor” propaganda, Anne Neville, Annette Carson, bigamy, Edward IV, Edward of Middleham, Edward V, illegitimacy, James VII/II, Jane, John Morton, Lord Guildford Dudley, Lord Protector of the Realm, Mary I, More, pre-contract, proclamations, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, short reigns, Tower of London, Wydevilles

This article is, I fear, another case of piercing Richard III in the back with that stealthy weapon, the hidden judgement. The attack isn’t open, but hidden behind the deceptive cloak of dark suggestion. Some might say, having read the article, that Richard’s short reign was poetic justice. More sensible folk, being acquainted with the…