The New Murrey and Blue blog

British Museum

Changing the facts about Sutton Hoo….

Aug 28, 2026

archaeology, films, research, Richard III

“The Dig”, archaeology, Basil Brown, British Museum, John Ashdown-Hill, Leicester University, Peggy Pretty, Philippa Langley, Richard III discovery, Sutton Hoo

I have just watched the excellent 2021 film The Dig, about the 1939 discovery of the amazing treasures of Sutton Hoo. It stars Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan and I thoroughly enjoyed it…but then, out of interest, I read more online. And lo! Yet again the truth had been tampered with from the moment the…
It’s Coming Home!

Jun 11, 2026

art, battles, culture, Events, history, medieval characters, Uncategorized

1066, Battle of Hastings, Bayeux Tapestry, Bishop Odo, British Museum, Harold Godwinson, London, William of Normandy

No, I’m not talking about the World Cup but something even more exciting! The Bayeux Tapestry is returning to the UK for the first time in almost a millennium – and the ancient artefact will be the centrepiece of what is anticipated to be the British Museum’s most popular exhibition ever. Possibly created as a…
Did You Know We Have Our Own ‘Bayeux Tapestry’?

Mar 28, 2026

art, battles, buildings, culture, Events, history, medieval characters

Bayeux Tapestry, British Museum, England, history, London, Reading Museum

Later this year, in 2026, the Bayeux Tapestry will be on loan from France to the UK and displayed at the British Museum. Did you know though that the UK has its very own, almost exact, replica created by an industrious group of Victorian women? It can be found in Reading Museum, only half an hour…
The Bayeux Tapestry is Coming Soon!

Jan 14, 2026

art, battles, culture, Events, history, medieval characters, medieval life, research, Usurpers to throne

1066, Bayeux Tapestry, British Museum, Harold Godwinson, Norman conquest, William I

Later this year the Bayeux Tapestry will be coming to London on loan from France for the first time in almost a millennium. It is believed to have been fashioned by English embroiderers (it’s not really a Tapestry, but an Embroidery) possibly in Canterbury. It was probably commissioned by Archbishop Odo, the brother of William…
Let’s swap for a while. Your Bayeux Tapestry for our Sutton Hoo Treasures….

Aug 11, 2025

archaeology, armour, battles, buildings, history, research, Usurpers to throne

Bayeur Museum, Bayeux Tapestry, British Museum, Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson, Sutton Hoo Treasures, William I

If you go to this link https://tinyurl.com/5y5j2fwy you’ll read that after a number of failed negotiations in the past, Britain is at last to be entrusted with the Bayeux Tapestry. Not for good—Heaven forfend!—but on loan, and in return we are lending France the wonderful Sutton Hoo treasures. (Can they be trusted with our treasures,…
See “King Richard III” give a talk in Stamford, Lincolnshire….

Apr 30, 2025

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, culture, Events, history, medieval characters, Richard III, Uncategorized

Battle of Bosworth, British Museum, British Museum Curator Dr Garth Williams, Browne’s Hospital Stamford, medieval stained glass windows, Richard III, William Browne wool merchant of Stamford

There is a wonderful 550-year-old hospital in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and it is there due to the 1475 generosity of wealthy wool merchant William Browne and his wife. It was granted a charter by Richard III, not long before the king’s tragic death at the Battle of Bosworth. “….British Museum curator Dr Gareth Williams is helping…
Dear Catherine …,

Jun 25, 2023

anniversaries, art, buildings, heraldry, law, religion

“Tudors”, Anne Boleyn, annulments, Arthur “Tudor”, bigamy, British Museum, Catherine of Aragon, executions, Henry VIII, jewellery, Julius II, Leviticus 18:16, marriages, Mary I, metal detecting, non-consummation, pendants, popes, Warwickshire

… Here is a little something to thank you for being married to me for so long because you definitely weren’t married to my brother, as the Pope confirmed. Sorry, for not being validly married to me because you were really married to my brother, as I decided, despite you giving birth to my first…
MEDIEVAL POSY RINGS – GIVEN WITH LOVE…

May 10, 2023

anniversaries, archaeology, art, buildings, The play’s the thing

Ashmolean Museum, British Museum, Catherine de Roet, Dorset, engraving, gifts, gold, Hamlet, Joan Hanham, John of Gaunt, metal detecting, Museum of London, posy rings, romance, Thomas Brook, Victoria and Albert Museum

Reblogged from MEDIEVAL POSY RINGS – GIVEN WITH LOVE… ‘Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?’ ‘Tis brief, my lord’ * This beauty is reputed to have been given by John of Gaunt (1340-1399) to his mistress and subsequent third wife, Katheryn Swinford (1350-1403). The inscription reads ‘alas for fayte’ which was probably…
Richard III’s boar badge found at Chiddingly manor house in 1999….

Jul 13, 2022

archaeology, art, battles, buildings, Science

boars, British Museum, Chiddingly, country houses, metal detecting, noblemen, Richard III, silver, Sussex

“….in 1999 a metal detectorist made an extraordinary find that’s become known as the Chiddingly Boar: ‘The white boar badge was used by Richard III’s household and followers between 1472 and 1485,’ the British Museum explain on their website of the hat badge that is now in their collection….” “….The boar was Richard’s symbol, and thousands…
Found in Devon …

Jun 25, 2022

anniversaries, archaeology, art, buildings, religion

Africa, British Museum, coins, Devon, Eleanor of Provence, Fitzwilliam Museum, gold pennies, goldsmiths, Henry III, metal detecting, Spink Auctions, William of Gloucester

We often feature very old coins unearthed. This one was found by metal detecting in a field somewhere in Devon and dates from Henry III‘s reign. It was part of a special consignment of pennies, minted by William of Gloucester with African gold. It features the Great Pavement of Westminster Abbey, which he updated, and…