They’ve lost a dungeon at Pontefract Castle….!

Well, here’s a novelty. Usually things are found at castles and other historic sites, but at Pontefract Castle they’ve lost something. Not a small something either, but a dungeon. How could that be, do I hear you ask? Well it seems that at least one visitor claims to have been inside this mysterious dungeon in… Continue reading They’ve lost a dungeon at Pontefract Castle….!

A new podcast …

… , History Muses, by our own Ashley Mantle. This episode features Ian Churchward of the Legendary Ten Seconds talking about their music. Ashley says: “History Muses is a brand-new podcast in which I talk to history creatives, essentially anybody who uses or is inspired by history to create something, be it books, films, music,… Continue reading A new podcast …

The dizzily handsome count and his dazzling lighting….

Foix is in the south of France, occupying the eastern part of the modern département of Ariège, and you can read about its castle here. The former counts are listed here. But I am concerned presently with only one of them,  Gaston Phoebus III de Foix, of whom my previous knowledge was mainly confined to… Continue reading The dizzily handsome count and his dazzling lighting….

The Gloucester History Festival is a great success….

Well, it seems that Gloucester is now the centre of the world. In a manner of speaking, of course, because the “Gloucester History Festival goes from the mythical Middle Ages to the modern Middle East”—see here. The 3-day festival , which ended on 14 April 2024, was a huge success and according to organisers it… Continue reading The Gloucester History Festival is a great success….

Henry Tudor treated Elizabeth Woodville with kindness and generosity….!

Hmm, yes. If you believe the above heading you’ll believe anything. Let me explain it. Back in 2013 I read this article this article, which is pro-Richard and follows the facts in general. But then everything was spoiled in the comments at the end, one of which contained the following:- “….Richard met his fate on… Continue reading Henry Tudor treated Elizabeth Woodville with kindness and generosity….!

Chatsworth (2010)

One of the things about being awarded, or inheriting, a peerage or baronetcy in the Early Modern period was the necessity to keep up appearances. Great families would compete to have better servants than their contemporaries. Whilst employing a better butler or housekeeper would be a relatively inconspicuous maintenance issue, a designer or gardener could… Continue reading Chatsworth (2010)

A Royal guide to … Wales

This excellent documentary was featured on Channel Four during March. It told of Wales’ existence as a Kingdom before the Normans arrived and sought to reinforce their borders and the last Principality was suppressed about a year before the future Edward II was born at his father’s greatest military outpost at Caernarfon. It discussed the… Continue reading A Royal guide to … Wales

The de Courcy Matter, Part II: The French side of the story….

I hope that by the time you read this article you will already have visited yesterday’s Part I, which relates the English version of Marguerite de Courcy’s return to France. She left England under the cloud of having lived far too high a life for a governess and of stealing some English royal jewels. These… Continue reading The de Courcy Matter, Part II: The French side of the story….

The de Courcy Matter Part I: According to English records….

Marguerite, Lady de Courcy, was the French governess of Richard II’s second wife, the child-bride Isabelle of Valois. This article, Part I, tells the generally known English version of what led to Marguerite’s return to France. I will begin with Richard’s obligation to remarry after the death of Anne of Bohemia, with whom he had… Continue reading The de Courcy Matter Part I: According to English records….