The New Murrey and Blue blog

Margaret de Prestwick

The real Babes in the Wood of the 14th century….

May 11, 2024

anniversaries, art, buildings, law, religion, sources

agecroft hall, babes in the wood, forced veiling, guardians, irwell valley, John of Gaunt window, Langley estates, laws of inheritance, litigation, Margaret de Prestwick, minors, nuns, Prestwich, Richard de Radcliffe, robert de holand, Robert Holand, Robin Hood, Roger de Langley, stained glass

In 1374 the Langley estates in Lancashire were left to 9-year-old Roger de Langley. On behalf of the boy’s guardian, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the Sheriff of Lancashire took control of the Langley estates and its young heir during the boy’s minority. It was the law for heirs who were minors to be…
Not every medieval nun wished to remain a nun….!

Jan 13, 2021

law, religion, sources

Archbishop William Melton, Archbishop’s Register, Bridget, Edward IV, faked death, Joan of Leeds, Margaret de Prestwick, nuns, Robert Holand, University of York

We read of all the women who became nuns in the medieval period, and it is often imagined that they were willing—eager even—to live such a life forever more. Noble families, even the royal family, designated daughter to be nuns. Bridget, younger dughter of Edward IV, was destined for such a life from childhood,…