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The heading of this article may sound a little like the latest blockbuster television drama series, but no, it refers to the stone corbels that abound in the small red sandstone Norman church of St Mary & St David in the hamlet of Kilpeck, Herefordshire. These wonderful carvings were drawn to my attention one evening…
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The current edition of the Ricardian contains a very interesting article by Lynsey Metcalfe about the Earl and Countess of Salisbury, a couple who have received relatively little attention despite their obvious importance. It is not my purpose to rehash the article – I recommend that the reader seek it out. However, one intriguing aspect…
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Just when you think you know all the portraits of a particular medieval king, another turns up that proves you wrong. The above painting of Richard II (see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_of_England) is new to me, and I find it fascinating. Apparently it’s by the British artist Norman Wilkinson, about whom you can read here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Wilkinson_(artist). Prints…
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A great deal has been written about Alice Chaucer, Duchess of Suffolk, and her grandfather, Geoffrey Chaucer. Yes, the Geoffrey Chaucer. Alice’s third husband was William de la Pole, who became the 1st Duke of Suffolk, and from them descended the Yorkist lord who perhaps ought to have been King of England. I speak of…
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Philippa was the daughter of the famous Lady Mohun and her husband Sir John Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun of Dunster. The first interesting thing to know about her is that no one has established when she was born. Her parents had quite a long period of estrangement, which only serves to complicate matters. Philippa had…
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The author of this article Extours to cover Perkin Warbeck and more in Taunton Ghost Walk | Somerset County Gazette expresses surprise that so few people seem to know who Perkin Warbeck was. Come now, as far as today’s schools are concerned there was no history before WWI! I’d be surprised if many of them…
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My two favourite kings, Richards II and III, get a mention in this article Top 10 castles in England (readersdigest.co.uk). All ten castles are splendidly impressive, but there are so many more, equally splendid and impressive, that are omitted. As witness Arundel above. But if you’re selecting your own top 10 in England, these are…
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Seating in church? For the medieval period, it should perhaps be ‘placing in church’ as pews for the multitude only really came in at the very end of the fifteenth century, and became universal in England after the change in the liturgy in the 16th Century, when two-hour sermons became common and seating for all…
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Today a hundred years ago, George Herbert, fifth Earl of Carnarvon, died, about five months after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, which he funded. Herbert was also, of course, the surname of the Earls of Huntingdon/ Pembroke, who included Richard III’s son-in-law William. The earlier of these families dates from the fifteenth century,…
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