archery

Uneven Shoulders? #UsToo

Feb 6, 2024

anniversaries

archery, Elizabeth II, Philippa Langley, Radio Four, Richard III, Saturday Live, uneven shoulders

On Radio Four’s “Saturday Live”, Philippa Langley announced that Richard III wasn’t unique among monarchs in having one shoulder higher than the other, but in such a way that nobody noticed during their lifetime. Elizabeth II was also uneven in this respect, concealed by her dressmaker, although we can safely assume that archery was not…
Sir Edmund Cockayne

Jul 21, 2021

anniversaries, battles, buildings

archery, Ashbourne Hall, Battle of Shrewsbury, Derbyshire, Edmund Earl of Stafford, Henry IV, Henry Percy, John Cokayne, knighthoods, Lancastrians, rebellions, Sir Edmund Cokayne, Sir John Cokayne, Thomas Percy Earl of Worcester, tomb effigies

The Cockayne family eventually established themselves as lords of the manor of Ashbourne (Derbyshire) for all practical purposes – in truth, it was a manor that belonged to the House of Lancaster, and they served in the roles of bailiff, steward, and so on. As time went by they took on wider responsibilities and became…
The Medieval Free Company (by the Legendary Ten Seconds)

Aug 31, 2020

anniversaries, buildings, Music Reviews

archery, Buckland Abbey, Devon, Medieval Free Company, re-enactors, The Acoustic Alphabet, The Legendary Ten Seconds, Wars of the Roses

THE MEDIEVAL FREE COMPANY AT BUCKLAND ABBEY AUGUST 2015 On a Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August 2015, I visited Buckland Abbey near Plymouth where a Wars of the Roses re-enactment group who call themselves The Medieval Free Company had set up their encampment. Buckland Abbey is a National Trust property which was founded by Cistercian…
Discovered in Norwich

Oct 26, 2018

anniversaries, battles, buildings, The play’s the thing, travel

archery, Azincourt, Harfleur, Harriet Martineau, Henry IV, Henry V, JD Wetherspoon, John of Gaunt, John Sell Cotman, Kett Rebellion, Lancastrians, Norwich, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich School artists, pubs, Shakespeare, Sir Thomas Erpingham, stained glass, Tomblands

Whilst visiting Norwich to see the Whitefriars plaque to Lady Eleanor Talbot, Richard’s sister-in-law, in Tomblands near the Cathedral, I happened to take lunch in a particular hostelry, the Glass House. It is principally named for the city’s stained glass industry and various panels, also commemorate the author Harriet Martineau, the rebel Robert Kett, Cotman…
Invasions

Dec 19, 2017

battles, buildings, television reviews

“confessions”, “Perkin”, Anglo-Dutch Wars, Anglo-Saxons, archery, Armada, Barbary pirates, Battle of Hastings, BBC4, Bertram Fields, castles, Charles II, Charles Laughton, churches, Dan Jones, Domesday Book, Elizabeth I, executions, films, Glenda Jackson, Harold II, Harrying of the North, John, Lady Catherine Gordon, Matthew Lewis, Medway Raid, naval battles, Royal deer forests, Sam Willis, The Shadow of the Tower, Tilbury speech, Tower of London, William I, Wroe

I have watched Dr. Sam Willis on several occasions and regularly enjoy his programmes, particularly his artillery series. With the prematurely grey beard, he is usually much more informative than Dan Jones, who is of a similar age. However, part two of his Invasions fell below this standard. It featured a lot of black and…
Saving The Prince of Wales

Jan 19, 2015

battles

archery, Battle of Shrewsbury, Henry IV, Henry Percy, Henry V, medical care

One of the most intriguing stories of the English medieval ages – and like most good stories this one is upfront and personal – involves Prince Hal (the future Henry the Fifth) and the Battle of Shrewbury that took place on July 21, 1403. For whatever reason, this particular story is overlooked in Shakespeare and…

archery

Uneven Shoulders? #UsToo

Sir Edmund Cockayne

The Medieval Free Company (by the Legendary Ten Seconds)

Discovered in Norwich

Invasions

Saving The Prince of Wales