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In 2008, archaeologists made a find that was possibly even more astounding than the discovery of Richard III’s remains. Beneath the floor of Magdeburg Cathedral in Germany, they opened a sarcophagus that was believed to be a cenotaph, or empty, symbolic memorial. Inside, they found a lead coffin which turned out to contain the remains…
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One of our contributors, Maria Leotta, recently posted this blogpost about a house belonging to Francis Lovell in York – read about it here. However, she has also now sent me a photograph of the beam that was apparently in said house, and on it is a depiction of a man wearing a medieval-style hat.…
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Recently I came across an archaeological article which I found very interesting as it had similarities to Richard III’s finding and identification. Duke Bela of Macso was a young Hungarian nobleman who was assassinated, aged approximately 25, in 1272. On August 6, King Stephen died, and his young son, Ladislaus, IV ascended the throne. Infighting…
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Thanks to the Yorkshire Branch for this information: Lancaster University will host a full day conference on Richard III on Saturday 6 December. Dr Christopher Tinmouth is one of the speakers and Philippa Gregory will be in conversation about her play Richard, MyRichard. Richard III Lord of the North & Dramatizing Richard III, Saturday 6…
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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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An international group of scientists, including Prof. Turi King of Leicester University, has investigated the dental plaque (calculus) of King Richard III and concluded that it was basically the same as both other contemporary remains examined (including those from different social levels), and also modern populations! This is their conclusion: The dental calculus of King…
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Joanne Larner: Please would you provide a short introduction for those who don’t know you. Andrew Jamieson: My name is Andrew Jamieson and for over 40 years I have been a fully trained and qualified painter of heraldry, calligrapher and traditional manuscript illuminator. In 2023 His Majesty the King asked me to design and paint…
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Dunstan was born around 910 in Somerset, and, as a boy, studied under Irish monks at Glastonbury. He showed early promise in terms of both scholarship and handicrafts, and at a young age became a priest. Over a long career – he died in Canterbury in 988 in his late 70s – Dunstan served as…
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On Saturday afternoon we were treated to a fantastically interesting talk by Professor Caroline Wilkinson, she who had created the reconstruction of Richard’s head. It was the Isolde Wigram Memorial Lecture and she touched on the reconstruction but concentrated on the A Voice for Richard project, which she participated in. She described all the detailed…
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Many Ricardians know that there are just two churches in the world dedicated to St Alkelda, one is in Middleham and the other in Giggleswick, but very few are aware of a mysterious stained glass in the latter. The whole matter started with a parish fair. Parishioners from both churches were looking for items to…
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