Medieval
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It’s always amusing to look at compilation articles, such as in this case (https://www.lovefood.com/galleries/amp/581128/the-most-lavish-british-royal-feasts-of-all-time-ranked), when a list of particularly lavish past coronation feasts is considered. Well, Richard III was bound to feature, because his coronation feast is still renowned for its extravagance. The usual inference to be drawn is that he was trying to justify…
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“….Dating back to around 1484 the town [Grantham] was given the right to hold a weekly market and two annual fairs by order of a Royal Charter granted by King Richard III….” From https://www.gbnews.com/news/grantham-medieval-onion-fair-revival-centuries-old-tradition-market. To be at an event for which Richard III was responsible at a pivotal moment in his reign, Grantham is the…
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Murrey and Blue would like to wish our readers a very Merrie Christmas and a wonderful new year! Christmas scene in a 15th century manuscript by e-codices via Flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
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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 Headaches and migraines: Medieval herbalists used betony to treat headaches, migraines, and even vertigo. Digestive issues: Betony was used to soothe digestive problems, such as indigestion,…
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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…
