Recent Posts

Interesting Tudor Facts

I thought it might be fun to put together a page of 'Interesting Tudor Facts' that I will add to the resources section of 'On the Tudor Trail', including your name beside the fact you provided. Leave me a comment or email me 'your fact' via our contact us page. I will then sort the facts into categories for easy navigating. The facts might be about any of the Tudor monarchs, Henry VIII's wives, Life in Tudor England, Tudor palaces, food, medicine...and the list could go on and on. Looking … [Read More...]

Exclusive interview with Dr Susan Bordo

I recently posted about 'The Creation of Anne Boleyn', a new book that Dr Bordo is currently writing. Susan and her research assistant, Natalie, have created a Facebook page to document the 'Anne Boleyn journey' and to make connections with other Anne enthusiasts along the way. Today I am very happy  to welcome Dr Bordo to On the Tudor Trail and share with you our interview. Susan's responses are incredibly genuine, informative, and interesting . I believe that Susan's background in … [Read More...]

Tudor Time Traveller- Haworth Old Hall

If you are ever in Haworth visiting The Bronte Parsonage Museum you should pop into Haworth Old Hall for a drink or dinner. The Old Hall is one of the oldest buildings in the village dating back to 1580. According to their website: Much of the Tudor charm and atmosphere has been preserved and we have two beautiful open log fires, seven real ales on tap, a delicious seasonal food menu using local produce and an extensive wine list too. Set amidst stunning countryside and situated at the … [Read More...]

If Walls Could Talk

Just a quick post about a new show starting soon on BBC4. Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces, presents If Walls Could Talk. Here is the information provided by the BBC: Dr Lucy Worsley, chief curator of the Royal Historic Palaces, presents a new series for BBC Four exploring how homes have evolved into what they are today – and how our relationship with them has changed over time. If Walls Could Talk, tells the story of British domestic life from … [Read More...]

New Anne Boleyn Location- Carew Manor

I have just added location number 32 to our growing list of places that Anne Boleyn visited in her lifetime that we can visit today. The latest addition is Carew Manor located in Beddington Park, once the family home of the Carew family. Background In 1528, King Henry VIII wrote the following letter to Anne Boleyn: Mine own Sweetheart, this shall be to advertise you of the great elengeness that I find here since your departing; for, I ensure you methinketh the time longer since your … [Read More...]

The Creation of Anne Boleyn – Have your say!

I wanted to share with you a new book entitled 'The Creation of Anne Boleyn' that Dr Susan Bordo is currently writing.  It's anticipated that the book will be published in 2012. Dr Bordo is a modern feminist philosopher known for her contributions to the field of contemporary cultural studies, particularly in the area of “body studies.” She has created a Facebook page to document her 'Anne Boleyn journey' and is hoping that other Anne enthusiasts will join. Like so many of us, Dr Bordo … [Read More...]

Elizabeth I Locket Ring

This beautiful ring was removed from Elizabeth I's finger after her death on March 24th 1603. The Elizabethan ring is mother-of-pearl, the band is set with rubies and the ‘E’ contains six diamonds set over a blue enamel ‘R’. A stunning pearl is also clearly visible. What makes this ring so unique is that its stunning façade hides a secret  - the head of the ring is hinged and within it lie two miniature enamel portraits, one of Elizabeth c. 1575 and one of an unnamed woman. The woman wears … [Read More...]

Kentwell’s Great Annual Re-Creation of Tudor Life

Kentwell Hall has been a family home for over 500 years. Most of the current building’s façade dates from the middle of the 16th century although the home’s origins go further back, with references in the Domesday Book of 1086. Successive generations of the Clopton family occupied Kentwell Hall from 1385 until 1661, when the last Clopton descendant died at the home. The Cloptons were responsible for building the present Hall between 1500 and 1550 and created much of what we see … [Read More...]

Anne Boleyn’s Jewellery

Right from the start of their relationship, Henry gave Anne many gifts. Many were symbolic pieces of jewellery that formed an important part of the rituals of Courtly Love. Starkey believes that in the late summer of 1526 Henry wrote what is probably his first letter in a sequence written after Anne had left Court and returned to her family home at Hever. Accompanying this first letter was Henry’s picture set in a bracelet with ‘the device which you already know’ (Starkey, Pg. 280). In the … [Read More...]

Retha M. Warnicke interviewed by Showtime

In June 2010, Retha M. Warnicke, history professor at ASU, was interviewed by Showtime for their hit television series "The Tudors". I thought you might be interested in watching the interview. Some of Warnicke's theories are controversial, in particular her theory about Anne Boleyn's downfall. Warncike believes that something was horribly wrong with the foetus that Anne miscarried in January 1536, leading Henry to believe God was punishing her for sexual crimes. I do not agree with … [Read More...]

Exclusive interview with C.J. Sansom

I am delighted to welcome author C.J. Sansom to On the Tudor Trail. C.J. earned a Ph.D. in history and was a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer. He is the author of the Matthew Shardlake crime novels set in the reign of Henry VIII. The protagonist is a hunchbacked lawyer who works on commissions initially from Thomas Cromwell in Dissolution and Dark Fire and then Thomas Cranmer in Sovereign and Revelation. Sansom's latest novel Heartstone is set during the summer of 1545. Shardlake … [Read More...]

A Love of Books

My husband has just surprised me with two new books for my Tudor library! It’s not my birthday, our anniversary or any other day where pressies might be expected and so it makes the gesture all the more special. He understands not only my love of all things Tudor but also my love of books! I love the smell of books (both old and new), the feel of the pages between my finger-tips, the excitement of reading the opening line, the anticipation of what’s to come, the ‘friends’ I make along the … [Read More...]