York

Relatively recent archaeological digs in York….

Apr 6, 2020

archaeology, buildings

Coppergate, Jorvik, Micklegate Bar, Queen’s Hotel, Roman Britain, Skeldergate, twentieth century, Vikings, York

Archaeology isn’t all about the really old. The photographs accompanying this article show York digs in only recently gone decades. But, of course, there is also a lot of interesting information about York’s more distant past! This article tells of various archaeological projects that took place in the 1970s and 80s.
A book to avoid if you uphold the truth about Richard III….

Mar 15, 2020

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, Book Reviews, Science, sources

“Princes”, “Tudor” propaganda, Anne Neville, Anne of Bohemia, Battle of Bosworth, boar, Council of the North, Dukes of York, Henry IV, Henry VII, Peter Ackroyd, Polydore Vergil, Richard II, Richard III, Thomas More, York

When we buy a non-fiction book (in our case usually something to do with Richard III and the medieval period) we anticipate its arrival with some relish. This is how I felt when, after reading many praises for Peter Ackroyd’s History of England, I decided to buy Volume I online. It arrived this morning, and…
“THE MEMORY OF KING RICHARD STILL LAID LIKE LEES AT THE BOTTOM OF MENS HEARTS’ Sir Francis Bacon

Jan 22, 2020

anniversaries, buildings, sources

“Tudor” rebellions, Anne Neville, Battle of Bosworth, Bootham Bar, Earl of Northumberland, Francis Bacon, Henry VII, monk Bar, Northumbrian rebellion, Richard III, Sir Roger Cotam, The Shambles, York, York Guildhall, York House Books

UPDATED POST AT sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/the-memory-of-king-richard-still-laid-like-lees-at-the-bottom-of-mens-hearts-sir-francis-bacon-2/ Entry from the York City House book…’King Richard late mercifully reigning upon us was thrugh grete treason of the duc of Northefolk and many othre that turned ayenst hyme, with many othre lordes and nobilles of this north parties, was pitiously slain and murdred to the grey hevynesse of this citie’ (1) “The…
Edmund, Earl of Rutland, a life cut short.

Dec 29, 2019

anniversaries, battles, buildings, genealogy

Battle of Bosworth, Cecily Neville, christening, Edmund of Langley, Edmund of Rutland, Edward IV, executions, Fotheringhay, George Duke of Clarence, Harry Lovedeyne, John Boyes, Lord Clifford, Ludlow Castle, Micklegate Bar, Mortimers, Priory of St. John the Baptist, reburials, Richard III, Richard of Salisbury, Rouen, royal tombs, signatures, Sir Edmund Mortimer, The history geeks, Wakefield, York

UPDATED POST AT sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/edmund-earl-of-rutland-a-life-cut-short/ Fotheringhay Church and Yorkist Mausoleum 1804. Watercolour by unknown artist. A link here to an excellent article on Edmund, Earl of Rutland. The History Geeks can be found on Facebook: The article also give a plausible reason as to why Edmund’s christening ceremony at Rouen…
There once was a “skirmish” at Worksop….

Dec 16, 2019

anniversaries, battles, buildings

ambush, Edmund Duke of Somerset, London, Nottinghamshire, Richard Duke of York, Richard of Salisbury, Wakefield, Wars of the Roses, William of Worcester, Worksop, Worksop Castle, York

A little-covered event took place at Worksop on 16th December 1460. It is covered in great detail in this excellent article. The whole of the Our Nottinghamshire site is worth exploring. However, it the Battle of Worksop that is dealt with here, and it seems there is very little known about exactly where the battle…
A short film about the final plight of Richard II….

Sep 29, 2019

anniversaries, buildings, films, The play’s the thing

BBC, Dukes of York, Henry IV, Mark Burghagen, Opera North, Pontefract Castle, Richard II, Richard III, The Sacred King, York, York History Plays, Yvonne Morley

Well, here is an article that manages to blend my two favourite kings, Richards II and III, although overwhelmingly Richard II. It concerns actor Mark Burghagen (BBC, Opera North, York Mystery Plays), who has produced a short film based around Richard’s plight after being usurped by his first cousin, Henry IV. Richard is pictured in…
Richard III enters York

Aug 29, 2019

anniversaries, battles, buildings, religion, sources

Anne Neville, Archbishop’s Palace York, diadem, Edward of Middleham, John of Gloucester, Micklegate Bar, Municipal Records, regalia, Richard Duke of Gloucester, Richard Duke of York, Richard III, Richard III Society, Royal Progress, sceptre, Wakefield, York, York Minster

Richard III and his royal progress in York It is not that easy to find a city connected to King Richard III as York is. During his life, he visited the capital of Yorkshire many times and after he accepted the crown and became king, he left London for the Royal progress and stayed in…
Shakespeare theatre producer discovers he is related to First Folio publisher….

Aug 3, 2019

Events, genealogy, The play’s the thing

Clifford’s Tower, First Folio, Henry Condell, James Cundall, Oxford, Rose Theatre, Shakespeare, York

Discovering one’s illustrious ancestors appears to be quite the thing these days, and now we have someone who is descended from the man responsible for publishing Shakespeare’s First Folio. “….A theatre producer who has brought the Elizabethan era to York City Centre and Blenheim Palace has discovered that he is related to the man who…
THE CASE OF THE RUNAWAY NUN

Jul 22, 2019

buildings, religion

Edith of Scotland, Henry I, Joan of Leeds, nunneries, Wilton Abbey, York

Below is a rather amusing recently discovered account of a young nun in York called Joan of Leeds, who escaped her convent in the early 15th c by pretending to be dead and leaving a fake body in her place. Many monks and nuns, especially those who had entered a monastic house at a very…
Dick Turpin and his contemporaries

Apr 7, 2019

anniversaries

crime, Dick Turpin, Epping Forest, escapes, executions, Georgia, Gregory Gang, highway robbery, horse theft, ITV, Jack Sheppard, Jonathan Wild, manslaughter, Newgate Prison, Richard of Salisbury, Thames, theft, treason, York

Inspired by this Kindred Spirits post, I began by reflecting on the fact that Richard (Dick) Turpin and Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury and thus Richard III’s uncle, were both executed in York. Turpin had relatively few connections in the north, but many with Essex, from his education near Saffron Walden to his nefarious activities…