Medieval
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Sky news reports: A medieval church tower has been suspended 45ft (14 metres) above the ground as part of a building project in the City of London. The tower of the 700-year-old All Hallows Staining Church was balanced on stilts in what developers called a “never seen before feat of engineering”. It was raised above…
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One of our contributors, Maria Leotta, recently posted this blogpost about a house belonging to Francis Lovell in York – read about it here. However, she has also now sent me a photograph of the beam that was apparently in said house, and on it is a depiction of a man wearing a medieval-style hat.…
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Vervain (Verbena officinalis) is another fascinating medieval herb with a rich history! Here are some interesting facts about vervain: Magical and Superstitious Uses Sacred herb: Vervain was considered a sacred herb in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and was associated with the gods. Protection and purification: The herb was believed to offer protection against evil…
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Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a fascinating and infamous medieval herb! You may have heard of it through Harry Potter these days, but it is real and had some strange tales attached to it. Here are some interesting facts about mandrake: Magical and Superstitious Uses Protection and good fortune: Mandrake was believed to offer protection and…
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Betony (Stachys officinalis) is a perennial herb that has been used for centuries in medieval medicine, cooking, and even magic! Here are some fascinating facts about betony: Medicinal Uses Culinary Uses Magical and Superstitious Uses Other Interesting Facts Overall, betony was a highly valued herb in medieval times, and its uses ranged from medicinal and…
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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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Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita) Costmary is an aromatic, perennial herb of the aster family. Costmary was a common ingredient in medieval tavern and kitchen gardens. It is also known as alecost, balsam herb, bible leaf, and mint geranium. The name ‘costmary’ comes from ‘costus of Saint Mary’ (‘costus’ is another plant). Also, in other languages, it is…
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Some of you may have read a previous post of mine, describing a ‘Mediaeval Feast’ I cooked a few years ago, basing some of the dishes on those served at Richard III’s Coronation. I thought you might like to try out some of the recipes from it, and others, for yourselves. Here is the first:…
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Today marks the 691st anniversary of the birth of Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. Born June 15, 1330, Edward was made Duke of Cornwall in 1337 and, at age twelve, became Prince of Wales. He was a founding knight in his father’s creation of the Order of the…
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