Posted By admin on September 19, 2009
Elsyng palace was a former Tudor palace that I had heard very little about until I came across an article written by the Enfield Archaeological Society. This is supposedly the place where Edward and Elizabeth heard of their father’s, death.
Click here to read the full article.
Posted By admin on September 7, 2009
Just a quick post to commemorate the birth of Queen Anne Boleyn’s first child, Elizabeth, at Greenwich Palace on September 7th 1533. Although not the male heir King Henry VIII was hoping for, she was healthy and robust.
Happy birthday Elizabeth!
Posted By admin on September 6, 2009
I recently came across an article about Henry VIII’s 500 year old prayer book that contains the writing of five Tudor monarchs! This is undoubtedly a one of a kind and true Tudor treasure!
As well as writings by Henry VIII, there are writings by his son, Edward, his eldest daughter, Queen Mary, his last wife, Catherine Parr and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I. Other parts of the book also contain prayers and psalms written by Henry VIII himself.
The Proby family have owned the book for over a century and understand that it offers a ‘real connection’ to this notorious King.
I definitely agree with this statement and feel that we are closest to them (all those that we love from the past) when we’re standing in spaces where they once stood or holding an item that was once warm in their hands.
I hope to one day see this amazing treasure for myself. But until then, reading about them will have to suffice!
Click here for a link to the full article.
Posted By admin on August 29, 2009
Lullingstone Castle in Kent
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m currently compiling a list of Tudor places that still stand today where Anne Boleyn is known to have visited.
To see this list, visit my website ‘On the Tudor Trail’ and click on the Tudor Trail link.
This is a work in progress and I will be adding new places regularly.
My latest addition is Lullingstone Castle in Kent. This is one of England’s oldest family estates dating back to the time of Domesday. It is also a castle that Henry VIII enjoyed visiting with his wife Queen Anne Boleyn!
Unfortunately, I won’t be visiting this picturesque castle on my upcoming ‘Tudor pilgrimage’ but have added it to my list of ‘must-see’ destinations- a list that is growing each day…
For visitor information visit Lullingstone Castle’s Website.
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lullingstone_Castle
Posted By admin on August 25, 2009
Canon Russ inherited the contents of Sawston Hall, including a 16th century portrait. Now, in order to save Sawston, he is willing to sell the portrait that some believe is of Mary Tudor!
The painting is a full length portrait of a lady in black wearing no jewellery. When first exhibited in 1956 it was claimed to be Mary I but in a later exhibition it was downgraded to just A Lady in Black.
A 16th century curator from the National Portrait Gallery claims that the portrait cannot be of Mary Tudor as the facial features are dissimilar to other authentic portraits. However, other scholars think that it must be Mary Tudor as it is too grand a portrait to be of anyone but royalty.
To read this very interesting article and see the portrait for yourself visit Times Online.
This article gives me hope that one day we might uncover another portrait of Anne Boleyn or a first portrait of her brother, George Boleyn.
Posted By admin on August 18, 2009
While researching my upcoming ‘Tudor Pilgrimage’ tour of the UK, I came across an interesting hotel in Oundle, Northhamptonshire that is said to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots. The Elizabethan Talbot Hotel is home to the oak staircase that Mary Queen of Scots descended on the way to her execution on the 8th February, 1587! I was amazed to find out that the staircase, and other parts of the building, were brought from the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle; where Mary Queen of Scots was tried and eventually executed.
The joy it brings me to discover more and more places with such a unique historical connection- like the Talbot- is indescribable! I am planning to visit the Talbot hotel for a relaxing ale after visiting Burghley House in October. Lets hope that I’m fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Mary Queen of Scots!
Posted By admin on August 15, 2009
Earlier today I came across a wonderful article written by Hilary Mantel, the author of Wolf Hall. I was greatly moved by the piece because many of the sentiments she describes are those which I have experienced but perhaps cannot word as eloquently.
The article is about how the past has a way of moving her and bringing her to tears. When talking about what makes her cry she says,
“it was a view, a prospect, a picture in a museum, or some pinprick contact with the past – one of those moments when history dabs out a pointed fingertip and the nail sinks straight through your skin. I have cried in many art galleries, and aroused the suspicion of the curators. I once cried at Ullapool, because I was overwhelmed by the idea of “north”. I cried the first time I visited Haworth, because I had suddenly glimpsed the narrow graveside nature of the Brontës’ lives.”
I love the image of history as a pointed fingertip that can suddenly poke you and get under your skin.
She goes on to describe how on a visit to Sutton House, one of the oldest houses in East London built in 1535 by Ralph Sadleir, a courtier of Henry VIII, she manages to explore the entire house without shedding a tear until she reachers the cellar. In the cellar she finds the building’s “flesh and blood”, the Tudor bricks; some marked by the bricklayers who worked them, one stamped with a dog’s pawprint and in another brick, the outline of a blade of grass. Hilary then describes how she begins to sense the Spring of 1535, “when Thomas More was still alive and pearls were still warm on the neck of Anne Boleyn. It was then that the shock of the past reached out and jabbed me in the ribs. They were as alive as I am; why can’t I touch them?”
I love these words because I am truly fascinated by the past. The thought of Anne Boleyn-alive- sends a tingle down my spine. She was not just a character in a story, she was a real person. And all that separates me from her is time. Really makes my mind boggle…
Read the full article- ‘Unfreezing antique feeling’.
Posted By admin on August 13, 2009
Thornbury Castle is the only Tudor Castle in England to be opened as a hotel. It is situated in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire.
In 1508, Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, obtained a license to build a castle on the site of the previous manor house. It was not designed to serve as a fortress and had only minimal defensive attributes.
Unfortunately, only part of the Duke’s grand plans for his new home were realised before his distant cousin, King Henry VIII, ordered his execution for alleged treason in 1521.
Following the Duke’s execution, King Henry VIII confiscated the Castle and in 1535 he and his Queen, Anne Boleyn, stayed at Thornbury for 10 days. Mary Tudor also spent time at the Castle as a princess and upon her death the Castle was returned to the descendants of the late Duke. Over the next two centuries the Castle lay unoccupied and fell into disrepair.
In 1824 the Howard family renovated the Castle and today it is a 26-room luxury hotel.
What is unbelievable is that visitor’s can choose to stay in the ‘Duke’s Bedchamber’ the exact room that Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn slept in during their visit! The octagonal bedchamber is reached via the original circular stone staircase, the exact staircase that King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn would have ascended when retiring for the night.
Like an exercise in time travel, Thornbury Castle allows its visitors to walk in the footsteps of Kings and Queens, to lose themselves in the ancient yew-hedged gardens and enjoy the roaring fires.
Thornbury also boasts a stone flagged courtyard and the oldest Tudor gardens in England. If all this wasn’t sufficiently enticing, the Castle is situated behind St. Mary’s Church, dating back to the Norman period.
To learn about other sites with a major connection to Anne Boleyn visit my website ‘On the Tudor Trail’.
Thornbury Castle Photo Source:
Posted By admin on August 13, 2009
The British Library has made available some fantastic podcasts associated with the ‘Henry VIII: Man and Monarch’ exhibition. The latest one added to the collection is a talk by historian Alison Weir in which she discusses Anne Boleyn’s imprisonment and execution. This is in connection to her next book titled ‘The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn’.
You can also learn about intimate details of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII’s relationship revealed in messages inscribed in Anne’s Book of hours.
For a full list of podcasts visit the British Library.
Posted By admin on August 11, 2009
The National Archives has a fabulous online exhibition called- Henry VIII: Power, Passion, Parchment. Included is a wealth of information about Henry’s life and his legacy. You can read a number of original documents relating to Henry’s marriages and even the opening account of Anne Boleyn’s trial for high treason!
What a fabulous resource for all us amateur historians!
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