churches
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When a medieval craftsman was denied his wages, he turned to stone to exact his revenge in a way that would echo through centuries. Atop Freiburg Minster resides a notorious gargoyle that serves a dual purpose: not only does it effectively channel rainwater, but it also embodies a spirit of defiance. According to historical accounts,…
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This year, 2025, it was the ten-year anniversary of the reinterment of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral. My friend and I went to Leicester to experience some of the festivities and took the opportunity to visit Fotheringhay, about an hour’s drive from Leicester. This, of course, was the birthplace of Richard as well as the…
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In rural Berkshire stands the little stone church of Aldworth. What makes this church remarkable is the numerous medieval effigies contained within, memorials to an important family with the surname ‘de la Beche’. Over the years, these effigies got called the ‘Aldworth giants’ and became something of a local attraction. Was there any truth to…
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While reading Francis Pryor’s book Britain in the Middle Ages: An Archaeological History, I came upon an example of medieval graffiti that is to be found in the Church of St Mary, Ashwell, Herts. Inside the wall of the west tower is a Latin verse which captures the horror, fear and guilt felt by survivors…
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The de Courcy Matter Part I: According to English records….
Anne of Bohemia, Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Thomas Arundel, banishment, boulogne, Calais, Catherine de Valois, Charles d’Orleans, Charles VI, churches, dolls, France, gold harts, governesses, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VII, Hundred Years War, Ireland, Isabelle de Valois, jewel theft, John of Gaunt, Ladies of the Garter, Lancastrians, livery badges, marguerite lady de coucy, Owain Tudor, Richard II, Rockingham, St. George’s Day, Terry Jones, usurpation, Who murdered chaucerMarguerite, Lady de Courcy, was the French governess of Richard II’s second wife, the child-bride Isabelle of Valois. This article, Part I, tells the generally known English version of what led to Marguerite’s return to France. I will begin with Richard’s obligation to remarry after the death of Anne of Bohemia, with whom he had…
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Elizabeth Wayte (Lucy) & Stoke Charity
Arthur Waite, bigamy, carvings, churches, Edward IV, Elizabeth Lucy, Elizabeth Wydeville, Hampshire, hampton family, Henry Duke of Somerset, Henry VII, John Ashdown-Hill, Lady Eleanor Talbot, mass of st. gregory, Reformation, Robert Stillington, secret marriage, St. Michael, stoke charity, Thomas More, thomas wayte, Titulus Regius, tombsBetween rainstorms, we were out in the countryside doing some church-crawling, a grand way to do some ‘medievalling’ when long journeys to castles and houses, most still closed for the winter, are out of the question. We happened on Stoke Charity by pure accident. I was attracted by the unusual name, which also began ringing…
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The church at Colyton is a handsome building which has a ‘lantern’ tower vaguely reminiscent of that at Fotheringhay. It is packed with interesting monuments, including those of the local Pole family (not, apparently, related to the more famous Poles.) The most intriguing monument, though, lies to the left of the high altar. It…
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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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When it comes to yew trees (European variety – taxus baccata, picture from the Woodland Trust) the British Isles are very well endowed, not only with thousands of fine specimens, but hundreds of fine ancient specimens. Who hasn’t noticed the yew trees that grow by our parish churches? It’s said they’re a remnant of pagan…
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