medieval life
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Most people know of the murder of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, but far fewer know that, in the mid-15th century, another bishop was murdered in the quiet priory church of Edington in Wiltshire. Edington is a peaceful place today; however, it was anything but in medieval times. Its most famous event was when,…
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Later this year the Bayeux Tapestry will be coming to London on loan from France for the first time in almost a millennium. It is believed to have been fashioned by English embroiderers (it’s not really a Tapestry, but an Embroidery) possibly in Canterbury. It was probably commissioned by Archbishop Odo, the brother of William…
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Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) was an important mediaeval herb. It is a bushy perennial with feathery, bright green leaves and small, daisy-like white flowers with yellow centres, similar to chamomile but its flowers are flat-topped. Its name, feverfew, or ‘fever reducer’ derives from the Latin febrifugia, meaning ‘to put fever to flight’. It was used, as…
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“….At Bosworth in 1485, Richard III’s fall from his horse marked the collapse of his kingship….” Hmm, that’s debatable. According to the Tudorised so-called “history ” that’s dominated relentlessly ever since 1485 , Richard’s downfall began from the moment he stole his elder nephew’s throne, murdered both nephews, executed Hastings and others without trial, etc.…
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Britain is full of old Christmas traditions, some that have continued through the centuries and some that (sadly) have faded away. But others have been revived, among them the medieval Crying Christmas of Lincoln, which has the City of Lincoln Waites to thank for its reappearance. See here https://tinyurl.com/4bszwaxc. Lest you jump to conclusions about…
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With permission of Kim Harding A last-minute change of speaker meant the frosty weather chimed perfectly with Kim Harding’s talk on ‘Medieval Winter’ on Monday 18th November 2025. Our centrally-heated homes and internet-driven prep for Xmas can’t compare to the hardships endured by medieval folk: a poor harvest, limited food storage and bitter cold meant…
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Do you feel tired and often need a snooze? Perhaps your sleeping habits are out of sync with nature. Previously, people slept differently from the way we do now. The idea of eight hours sleep in one go was unheard of. In the Middle Ages, the night was divided into two parts: the first sleep…
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Lovage (Levisticum officinale), a tall, leafy perennial with a strong scent, was popular in mediaeval times, used for medicinal purposes, in cooking and famously, in love potions because of its name, from Middle English ‘love-ache’, where ‘ache’ meant parsley. Its use dates back to the 12th century. Medicinal Uses- Medieval people used all the parts…
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Lady Godiva (or Godgifu, meaning gift of God), was not just a legend – she was real! And, what’s more, she was Richard III’s ancestor. Here’s how: From Sibyl de Neufmarché, follow the pink dots back (right to left) through Richard’s family tree. Lady Godiva, was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who was the wife of…
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Sky news reports: A medieval church tower has been suspended 45ft (14 metres) above the ground as part of a building project in the City of London. The tower of the 700-year-old All Hallows Staining Church was balanced on stilts in what developers called a “never seen before feat of engineering”. It was raised above…
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