In the course of seeking information about a certain Sir Ralph Paynell of 14th-century Lincolnshire, of whom more in a later article, I happened upon an astonishing story about other members of the Paynell family, this time in the 15th century. It was related to the Tudor antiquary, John Leland in his 1530s Itinerary (see links…

It’s always good to learn of something that is bound to help boost the reputation of King Richard III. We already love Josephine Tey for her iconic book The Daughter of Time, which set the record straight about Richard, but she didn’t only write as Josephine Tey. At this Barnard Castle site https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/barnard-castle/st-marys-parish-church/the-castle-players-present-dickon-a-play-about-richard-iii/2024-11-16/14:30/t-jzpqmny I came…

On 25 August 2024 Bruges was entertained by the first Golden Tree Procession for seven years before thousands of spectators. The occasion is a visual and musical spectacle that is usually held only every five years but the arrival of the pandemic hampered schedules this time.  The procession (“….[which] involves 1,600 extras, seven large floats…

I like to give the heads-up about any talks or other events I discover that may be of interest to those readers who are able to attend such occasions. So first, Philippa Langley’s tour continues and on 19 SEPTEMBER she will be giving a talk, taking Q&A and book-signing at the Electric Palace in beautiful…

Well, as Ricardians we all know what supposedly happened in the Tower of London in 1483. Everyone else knows about it too, usually the wrong version. As a result Richard III gets the blame for the “murders” of his child nephews. Never mind that there’s no evidence they died before their time at all. You…

I DEDICATE THIS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT THIS SITE, TO ITS OWNER, STEPHEN LARK (SUPER BLUE), WHO HAS PASSED AWAY. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. REST IN PEACE, STEPHEN. This article has been prompted by reading the following link: https://www.sciencealert.com/hidden-chapel-of-disemboweled-saint-found-in-the-old-lore-of-westminster-abbey. Elizabeth Woodville, the queen of Edward IV, died on 12 June 1492 and was buried…

Question: “….What do a small market town, a church in ruins, and Sherlock Holmes have in common?….? Answer: “….The fact that the graveyard in the church precinct was the burial place of a sinister [17th-century] squire whose story is said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Hound of the Baskervilles….” Doyle’s Baskerville…

This bed was recently on display in Manchester Cathedral. Although it’s elaborately carved, it’s also surprisingly small. No larger than a standard double. I imagine the ‘brown’ effect is modern and that originally it would have been painted. This would have brought out the carvings to best advantage.

I have always wondered what J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, thought of the Tudor Era. Apparently, he sometimes spoke of the Norman invasion with such pain, he made it sound as if it had happened in his lifetime! Being a devout Catholic, I surmise he would not have been much of…

Now, why would an article about a Scottish dean begin with a photograph of Ludstone Hall in Shropshire? Read on, and all will be revealed Nowadays Ludstone Hall appears to be Jacobean, but it began life back in 1086 when—known as Luddesden and part of the “ancient royal manor of Claverley”—it belonged to the then…