Recent Posts

Anne Boleyn made marquis of Pembroke

On the morning of Sunday, 1st September at Windsor Castle Anne Boleyn received the title of marquis of Pembroke. This was significant for a number of reasons, the first being that no other woman had ever been bestowed with the title, secondly, the earldom of Pembroke had previously been held by Henry’s great-uncle, Jasper Tudor, and so had strong royal connections (Starkey, p.459) and finally the title made Anne the most prestigious non-royal woman in the realm. Continue reading here. … [Read More...]

The Ghost of Jane Seymour

I have just completed my third post in the series on Tudor hauntings where I have been focusing on the myths and stories surrounding the ghosts of the six wives of Henry VIII. This time I've chosen the ghost of Jane Seymour, third wife to Henry VIII. Within 24 hours of the execution of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed. In an unbelievable twist of fate, Jane Seymour, the woman that had come to court as a lady in waiting to Queen … [Read More...]

Anne Boleyn’s appearance and demeanour

The debate about what Anne Boleyn actually looked like has raged for many years and I think will continue to do so as no contemporary portrait of Anne survived. The other issue is that many of the contemporary descriptions of Anne were written during her relationship to the King and so, as Eric Ives says, are 'already coloured by the controversy surrounding her relationship with the king' (p.39). Hostile observers skewed their descriptions to serve a political purpose. Antonia Fraser calls it … [Read More...]

Another Anne Boleyn place joins the list

The addition of the 22nd Anne Boleyn place to our ever growing list is very exciting especially because it's the first place to take us across the English Channel to the lush countryside of the Loire Valley in France. The stunning Chateau Blois is today's stop on the Tudor Trail. After the death of old King Louis XII, Anne Boleyn remained in the service of King Francis I's young wife, Queen Claude. For seven years Anne Boleyn served her mistress and built on the education she received … [Read More...]

Historic and haunted Tudor house celebrates 500th birthday

I have just finished reading an interesting article about Paycocke's house in Coggeshall. The home dates back to 1510 and was built by Thomas Paycocke as a testament to his growing wealth generated by the wool and cloth trade in the 16th century. It features beams that are decoratively carved and engraved with the initials of Thomas and his wife Margaret. There is also an acorn sized face believed to have been left as a signature by the carver. The impressive Tudor house now … [Read More...]

Our exclusive interview with Alison Weir

Why are readers insatiable when it comes to the Tudor period? It's probably the most dramatic period in our history, with vivid, strong personalities. A king with six wives, two of whom were executed? You couldn't make it up! The Tudor period is the first one for which we have a rich visual record, with the growth of portraiture, and detailed sources on the private lives of kings and queens. This was an age that witnessed a growth in diplomacy and the spread of the printed word. With Henry … [Read More...]

The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn by Josephine Wilkinson

Having never read one of Josephine Wilkinson’s books before I was unsure of what to expect.  I quickly discovered that her work is well researched and based on evidence but it is by no means as detailed as the work of Eric Ives or Alison Weir. In saying this, I should clarify that I did find a couple of historical inaccuracies in the work. Wilkinson does though offer an interesting insight into Anne’s time spent with the Archduchess Margaret and the young Queen Claude and the life long impact … [Read More...]

Catherine of Aragon’s Ghost

I have just finished writing an article about the ghost of Catherine of Aragon. Although her spectre is not as prolific as that of Anne Boleyn's she still makes her presence known in Castle Lodge, Ludlow where she and Arthur, Prince of Wales, spent the early months of their marriage and in Kimbolton Castle where she took her final breaths. Read the full article here. … [Read More...]

Maid of Honour cakes named after Anne Boleyn

I recently came across an interesting story that tells of how King Henry VIII named the 'Maid of Honour' cakes after seeing Anne Boleyn and other maids eating the sweet pastries at Richmond Palace. He was so delighted with the cakes that he imprisoned the cook and demanded she only produce the cakes for those of his choosing. He also ordered her to keep the recipe secret and some say even locked it up in an iron box in Richmond Palace. Another version of the story claims that the … [Read More...]

Stone Castle plays host to Anne Boleyn

With the addition of the beautiful Stone Castle to our ever growing list of Anne Boleyn places we have now reached a record 21 locations that you can visit with a connection to Anne. Follow in her footsteps and walk the grounds where kings, queens and courtiers have played out their lives. Join us on The Tudor Trail! Stone Castle in Kent is a magnificent building that is steeped in 800 years of history. Built between 1135 and 1140, the castle later fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the … [Read More...]

On this day in history- Battle of Bosworth Field

On the 22nd August 1485 the penultimate battle of the War of the Roses took place. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, led the house of Lancaster to victory against King Richard III and the house of York. Richard III was killed in battle and so ended the Plantagenet dynasty that had ruled for 331 years. Henry Tudor's victory and subsequent marriage to Elizabeth of York was the commencement of the Tudor dynasty. A house that would rule England and its realms for 118 years until the death of … [Read More...]

Our list of Anne Boleyn places reaches 20!

I first created On the Tudor Trail because of my interest (or obsession some would say...) with Anne Boleyn and the Tudors. When researching my Tudor Pilgrimage trip that I went on last year I scoured the internet for a resource that listed Anne Boleyn related places that I could visit on my trip. What I found was lots of short lists outlining the places I already knew about but no extensive list that detailed those places we don't automatically associate with Anne. As a result of not finding … [Read More...]