Palace of Westminster

Henry the Seventh and Watergate….

May 31, 2024

anniversaries, buildings, religion, travel

Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth of York, Henry VII, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Palace of Westminster, piers, queen’s stairs, River Thames, Royal Progress, watergate, Wenceslaus Holler, Westminster Bridge

“….March 1486….Henry VII went on [his first] Progress….Elizabeth of York went with Henry on a progress to the north of England. They were accompanied by 200 bowmen. Henry wanted to show the north of England that he was secure in London which he hoped would put off any would be Yorkist pretender to the throne.…
The end of much of historic Westminster Palace…..

Oct 16, 2022

anniversaries, art, buildings, law, religion

1834 fire, architecture, Charles Barry, Old Palace Yard, Palace of Westminster, Pugin, Richard III, tally sticks

The above illustration marks the terrible scene on 16 October 1834 when fire consumed the Palace of Westminster, which had been there, gradually expanding in various styles, since the 11th century. Then, in one night, it was destroyed. The cause, it’s believed, was the careless disposal of tally sticks in a furnace; the result was…
London’s Greatest Bridges (continued)

Dec 8, 2021

art, buildings, Science, television reviews

Albion Mill, almshouses, arson, Belgium, bribery, Canaletto, cement, Channel Five, Charles II, Company for the Strand Bridge, Company of Watermen, concrete foundations, Cornish granite, craft guilds, Frost Fairs, House of Commons, iron, John Rennie, Ladies’ Bridge, Lambeth, London Bridge, lotteries, Palace of Westminster, Pathe News, Portland stone, protests, River Thames, roads, Rob Bell, Second World War, slum clearances, Southwark, steam power, Strand, Suffragettes, Sutton Hoo, Thomas Page, timber, Waterloo, Waterloo Bridge, Westminster Bridge, windmills, Wool staple

This series finally resumed on Channel Five at the beginning of October, to cover two of the newer structures over the Thames, neither of which are in the original form. As usual, Rob Bell’s enthusiasm is infectious and his programmes are highly informative. Episode Three covered Westminster Bridge. By 1700, the population of London was…
Oh where, Oh where, has Chaucer’s “Foul Oak” gone….?

Sep 6, 2020

anniversaries, buildings, travel

A2, Anne of Bohemia, Baginton Oak, Canterbury, Christ Church Greyfriars, Dover, Eltham Palace, executions, Foul Oak Hatcham, Geoffrey Chaucer, highway robbery, Nicholas Brembre, Old Kent Road, Palace of Westminster, Richard II, Smithfield, St. george’s Chapel, St. Paul’s, Tower of London, Warwickshire, Watling Street, Windsor Castle

According to Project Gutenberg, on 6th September 1390 Geoffrey Chaucer was mugged at a place called the Foul Oak, but not the Baginton Oak. Rather was it on what we now call the Old Kent Road but was originally the Roman Watling Street, leading out of London, on the way to Canterbury and…
Not all Speakers of the House of Commons left gracefully….

Jan 19, 2020

anniversaries, buildings, law

Edmund Dudley, Edward I, executions, Good Parliament, London Bridge, Palace of Westminster, Richard Empson, Sir John Bussy, Sir Thomas Tresham, Sir William Tresham, Speakers of the Commons, Thomas More, William Catesby

Well, while researching the Painted Chamber of Westminster Palace, with particular reference to the “Good Parliament” of 1376, I couldn’t help imagining today’s House of Commons faced, not with someone like John Bercow (whose birthday it is today and is quite short with a head), but Edward the First! Can you just imagine old…
Devon Roses

Nov 27, 2019

anniversaries, battles, Music Reviews

Act of Accord, Cecily Duchess of York, Cicely Plantagenet, Countess of Warwick, Devon and Cornwall Group Richard III Society, Edward V, Elizabeth Lambert, Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth Woodville, France, Henry VI, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Margaret of Anjou, Margaret of Burgundy, Palace of Westminster, reburial, Richard III, Sandra heath wilson, The Legendary Ten Seconds, Wakefield, William Duke of Suffolk

Devon Roses 2019 catalogue number R16 To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Devon & Cornwall branch of the Richard III Society Songs recorded from 2015 to 2019 at Rock Lee & Other World Studios The lady singers of the Legendary Ten Seconds: Elaine Churchward vocals Jules Jones vocals Pippa West vocals Bridgit England…
ELIZABETH WYDEVILLE, JOHN TIPTOFT AND THE EARL OF DESMOND

Oct 17, 2019

anniversaries, buildings, law, religion, sources

Annette Carson, attainder, bigamy, Bishop Thomas Barrett, Cecily Neville the Younger, Domenico Mancini, Drogheda, Dublin, Earl of Desmond, Earl of Kildare, Edward IV, Edward V, Elizabeth Greyndour, Elizabeth Wydeville, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Holy Trinity Cathedral, John Ashdown-Hill, John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester, Palace of Westminster, pre-contract, privy seal, Ricardian, Richard III, Richard of Warwick, Rosemary Hawley Jarman, Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset, Westminster Abbey

I like to be fair. I really do. Even when I find it hard. Take Elizabeth Wydeville ..or not if you prefer. Although I am not and never will be a fan of this lady… ‘wife’ to Edward IV, illustrious Son of York, a golden warrior but a man prone to keeping his…
LONDON’S LOST AND FORGOTTEN RIVERS

Oct 9, 2019

buildings, travel

Bermondsey Abbey, Blackfriars, Bridewell Palace, Catherine of Aragon, Croydon, Croydon Old Palace, Elizabeth Wydeville, Jacob’s Island, Lady Margaret Beaufort, London, London Museum, Ludgate Circus, Palace of Westminster, River Effra, River Fleet, River Lea, River Neckinger, River Tyburn, River Walbrook, River Wandle, rivers, St. Saviour’s Dock, Thorney Island, Westminster Abbey

Updated post at sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/londons-lost-and-forgotten-rivers-2/ Jacob’s Island formed by a loop in the River Neckinger c1860. Formerly known as Folly Ditch. Watercolour J L Stewart 1829-1911 Here is a link to a very interesting article on London’s lost and forgotten rivers with details of some interesting finds including, my favourites , a 12th century…
The first “red carpet” in England….?

Jul 16, 2019

anniversaries, culture, The play’s the thing

Aeschylus, Agamemnon, Anne of Bohemia, Bryan Bevan, Clytemnestra, Coronation, funeral procession, Palace of Westminster, procession, red carpets, Richard II, Westminster Abbey, William de Latymer

We’re all accustomed to seeing dignitaries, film stars and so on walking along a red carpet, and know it’s a sign of great respect, courtesy or just plain flattery. According to Wikipedia :- “The earliest known reference to walking a red carpet in literature is in the play Agamemnon by Aeschylus, written in 458…
The history of the Palace of Westminster….

Nov 4, 2018

buildings

Palace of Westminster

Here is an informative site about the history and development of the Palace of Westminster, with LOTS of illustrations as to what, where, when and by whom. Recommended.