history
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I have written recently about Jo Harkin’s new book, The Pretender, (https://murreyandblue.co.uk/2025/05/05/the-pretender-takes-the-same-old-attitude-to-richard-iii/) which tells the story of Lambert Simnel, who claimed to be Edward, Earl of Warwick, for whom the Yorkists fought (and lost) the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487. You can read about the earl here https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_25.html. And about Lambert Simnel here https://richardiii.net/faqs/richard-and-his-world/aftermath/lambert-simnel-and-the-king-from-dublin/…
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When a medieval craftsman was denied his wages, he turned to stone to exact his revenge in a way that would echo through centuries. Atop Freiburg Minster resides a notorious gargoyle that serves a dual purpose: not only does it effectively channel rainwater, but it also embodies a spirit of defiance. According to historical accounts,…
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Mabel was the daughter of the notoriously cruel, William I Talvas and the heiress of her father’s estates, inheriting on his death in 1060. She also inherited the remainder of the Bellême honour in 1070 at the death of her uncle Yves, Bishop of Séez and Lord of Bellême. When her father was exiled she…
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In medieval times, dittany, now more commonly known as dittander, Lepidium latifolium, a perennial herb native to parts of Britain, was used for hot relishes. It suffered a culinary decline by 1650 when horseradish took its place. The spiciness of both its leaves and root are suggested in its common name, poor man’s pepper. It…
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10+ misunderstood historical figures, including Richard III….
Well, if there’s a list of historical figures on-line, you can be virtually certain that Richard III will crop up somewhere….usually as the bad guy. Well, thanks to Henry VII, Thomas More, John Morton, Shakespeare and just about any dumb historian since then. If ever there was a flock of sheep, historians of Richard III…
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Since most people were unable to read, mediaeval drinking houses/pubs used colourful pictorial signs, leading on from the ‘ale-stake,’ a vertical or horizontal pole hung outside such establishments to show that fresh ale was available. This was a continuation of a Roman practice of using ivy or vine leaves to indicate a place that sold…
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Well, today I came across something that I had never heard of before, and it’s such an oddity that I cannot believe it isn’t more well known. Now, if I mentioned the “king’s lenten cock-crower” would it mean anything to you? OK, don’t all rush at once to tell me I’m the only daftie in…
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Do you remember my bolshie* piggybank? Yes, the one that’s never around when I find another wonderful property for sale? Well, when he saw how my eyes lit up when reading that Appleby Castle is for sale, he had it away on his trotters at the speed of light. Not that the few pennies he…
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If, like me, you like to browse around websites about life in the past, you might be interested in this link, https://tinyurl.com/2tk5meck, which takes you to a website called Old & Interesting. You’ll soon realise that not everything in the site dates back to the medieval period, but it’s very interesting all the same. I…
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Imagine someone donating the above work of art to a charity shop, which then sells it for a mere £20. Then imagine finding out it could well have a strong connection to Robert the Bruce! This is where imagination is jettisoned, because it has really happened. You can read all about it at this link…
