religion
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Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) was commonly used in medieval times, but has fallen out of popularity now. Here are some fascinating facts about hyssop: Medicinal UsesRespiratory issues: Hyssop was used to treat coughs, colds, and respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and asthma.Digestive aid: The herb was used to soothe digestive issues, like indigestion and bloating.Wound healing:…
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An Interview With… Thomas Dennis
This is the first in a proposed series of interviews with notable people associated with King Richard III. A short while ago, I was lucky enough to interview Thomas Dennis, the young actor who recreated the voice of Richard III. He was chosen, not only for his acting ability (which has garnered great reviews), but…
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Here is an interesting post from Annette Carson (originally posted on Facebook) I’ve just watched the first Michael Portillo programme on Portugal, where he visits Aveiro and films the beautiful tomb of The Holy Princess Joana. This is the Portuguese princess with whom Richard III was in negotiation to marry, a marriage which she and…
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St Ninian was ‘a most holy man’ according to the Venerable Bede. He was born around 360AD, near Hadrian’s Wall. He is first heard of in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of what is now Scotland from his monastery in Whithorn, Galloway. For this reason he is known…
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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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It is said that almost every European, statistically, is descended from Charlemagne, and one of his descendants was Richard III. Here is one of the possible pedigrees from Richard to Charlemagne (as Charlemagne had many children via numerous women, there are likely to be several routes from Richard to him). It’s in three parts –…
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St Valentine’s Day has been celebrated on February 14th since the 6th century, but who was St. Valentine and why is his saint’s day associated with love? The Church actually recognizes three Valentines in its list of saints. Each St. Valentine had his feast day on February 14. So he could have been Valentine, a…
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So here is one of John Ashdown-Hill‘s lesser-known articles, delineating the build-up to and consequences of the death of the last Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in January 1475/6. It shows the descent of the senior Mowbrays from Edward I and tells how his daughter‘s title was hijacked by Edward IV for his own son and…
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“….UK conservators knit together thousands of pictures taken at Angers Cathedral of Saint Maurille paintings….” It was while reading this article—https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/03/medieval-wall-paintings-hidden-in-a-french-cathedral-revealed-in-digital-imagery—that I learned of a worthy decade-long project by UK conservationists that has revealed some magnificent medieval wall paintings “….in all their multi-coloured splendour for the first time in more than 500 years….” The paintings,…
