On the Tudor Trail

A Goodly Garden, Thornbury Castle

This week’s Tudor Time Traveller location is the Privy and Goodly Garden at Thornbury Castle in South Gloucestershire. I was lucky enough to stay overnight in the Duke’s Bedchamber at Thornbury Castle last year. This is the exact bedchamber used by Henry VIII during his stay at the castle in the summer of 1535. He and Anne Boleyn spent 10 days at the castle and were visited by the Mayor of Bristol and a deputation of the city’s leading burgesses. A Brief History of the Manor and Castle of … [Read More...]

How to eat to save your life (and soul) by Vanora Bennett

I have just added to our resources section a wonderfully detailed and engaging guest article written by author, Vanora Bennett. How to eat to save your life (and soul) is essentially a "beginner's guide to the medieval way of feasting (and fasting)." Meticulously researched, informative and accompanied by some great pictures, I know you are going to enjoy reading this article. I read about everyday life in Medieval and Tudor England with relish and am curious about seemingly mundane … [Read More...]

Digging For Britain- The Tudors

I have just watched two episodes of a fantastic new BBC series called Digging For Britain. The four part series, presented by Dr Alice Roberts, follows a year of British Archaeology, joining up the results of digs and investigations throughout England. The four parts of the series cover: Prehistory - BBC Uk's episode description: Dr Alice Roberts continues her journey through this season's most important archaeology, with an amazing array of finds from prehistory. Her journey takes … [Read More...]

Exclusive Interview with Vanora Bennett

I have just posted On the Tudor Trail's exclusive interview with Vanora Bennett, author of four historical novels including Portrait of an Unknown Woman, that is absolutely brilliant and Figures in Silk (which I am sad to say I haven't read yet). In our interview we discuss what inspired her to move from journalism to writing historical fiction, the lure of Tudor England, Holbein's extraordinary drawings and much more! Be sure to read the full interview here. … [Read More...]

New Anne Boleyn Place- St. James’ Palace!

I get very excited when I add another stop On the Tudor Trail! Our 27th Anne Boleyn place is St. James' Palace. Henry VIII built the Palace between 1531 and 1536 on the site of the Hospital of St. James, Westminster. It has been the setting of many important royal events over the centuries and some of the original palace still survives today. Of Henry VIII’s red brick Tudor building still standing is the Chapel Royal, the gatehouse, some turrets and two surviving Tudor rooms in the state … [Read More...]

Anne Boleyn’s Pregnancies

Claire Ridgway from The Anne Boleyn Files has written a guest post for On the Tudor Trail readers about Anne Boleyn's pregnancies. There is a lot of confusion and countless misconceptions surrounding Anne's pregnancies and for that reason I invited Claire to write on this topic. It is a very clear, informative and well researched article that I am sure you will enjoy. I thank Claire for her time and for sharing some of her knowledge about Anne with us. If you want to find out more about … [Read More...]

Tudor Primary Sources

I have just posted a page with links to various primary sources related to the Tudors and Tudor England. When it comes to researching the Tudors, there are countless books available on every topic imaginable. Rather than always referring to secondary sources, it’s a good idea to refer to the primary source wherever possible. The great thing is that a lot of sources can now be accessed from the comfort of your own home. This is a work in progress and I will add new links as I come across … [Read More...]

Lost Tudor Garden

I watched a fabulous episode of Lost Gardens today. For those of you that don't know the show here is ABC TV's blurb: Step back in time to discover eight forgotten and overgrown gardens, recreating them to resemble what they would've been in their heyday. Renowned British garden presenter Monty Don leads a horticultural and design team to ressurect eight very different British gardens, spanning 500 years. They include a 19th century Warwick grocer's detached pleasure garden, a Tudor … [Read More...]

Best Tudor Books

I have just posted a list of non-fiction books about The Tudors and Tudor England that I have referred to when researching posts and articles for my site. I have also added some that I have not yet read but that I have heard good reviews about. The books have been organised under topics of interest including Anne Boleyn, Six Wives, Henry VIII & Court, Mary, Elizabeth & Edward, Other Tudor Personalities, Life in Tudor England and more! This is a work in progress, as I will be adding … [Read More...]

Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII

I am so excited about this book by Giles Tremlett and cannot wait for it to be published later this year (November 23rd). It is the first full length biography on Catherine of Aragon that has been written in over 40 years! The amazon book blurb reads: The youngest child of the legendary monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) was born to marry for dynastic gain. Endowed with English royal blood on her mother's side, she was betrothed in infancy to Arthur, … [Read More...]

Exclusive interview with Robin Maxwell

I have just posted On the Tudor Trail's exclusive interview with Robin Maxwell. Author of eight historical fiction novels including The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Mademoiselle Boleyn and The Queen's Bastard. In April of 1997 when Maxwell's first novel, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, was published my interest in Anne had only just sparked but after reading and LOVING this book I was determined to find out more about this woman that managed to change history. Thirteen years later, I am … [Read More...]

The Tudor Time Traveller- Hever Castle

This week’s Tudor Time Traveller location is Hever Castle. On my recent trip to England, like any loyal Anne Boleyn fan, I could not wait to visit Hever Castle. I spent weeks dreaming about the moment when I would finally come face to face with Anne’s childhood home. The home where she grew up and spent many happy years. I longed to walk the grounds where she had walked, to be in the same space that had once been occupied by Anne Boleyn. I was fascinated by the fact that the walls had once … [Read More...]