Elizabeth Wayte (Lucy) & Stoke Charity

Between rainstorms, we were out in the countryside doing some church-crawling, a grand way to do some ‘medievalling’ when long journeys to castles and houses, most still closed for the winter, are out of the question. We happened on Stoke Charity by pure accident. I was attracted by the unusual name, which also began ringing… Continue reading Elizabeth Wayte (Lucy) & Stoke Charity

Various Goings on in the General Area of Cheshire.

Although Cheshire was fiercely loyal to Richard II, after the Battle of Shrewsbury (1403) that loyalty gradually transferred itself to the House of Lancaster. Cheshire was a royal earldom and palatinate, with the King (or the Prince of Wales when there was one) as its immediate lord. As in next-door Lancashire, there was no resident… Continue reading Various Goings on in the General Area of Cheshire.

When there’s snow at midsummer….

A short story by Sandra Heath Wilson (viscountessw) Please remember, ladies and gentlemen, that this story is fiction. The great midsummer bonfire crackled and roared, and sparks billowed high into the dark sky. It was encircled by thirteen hooded black-robed figures, and the face of the youngest was pale as he accepted the carved wooden… Continue reading When there’s snow at midsummer….

An enquiry

Today in 1461, Lady Eleanor Talbot married Edward IV, either on her Warwickshire lands or in Norfolk. As Ashdown-Hill has shown, she was older than Edward, a widow, from a Lancastrian background and the ceremony took place in secret during the spring, five factors that also apply to Edward’s bigamous marriage almost three years later.… Continue reading An enquiry

BBC Radio Leicester interviews John Ashdown-Hill …

… about his book “The Private Life of Edward IV”. Here, at 45:12, he discusses Edward’s legal marriage, his bigamous marriage and his (other) mistresses. Here, at about 49:00 , he disscusses Edward’s (hitherto little known) relationship with Henry, Duke of Somerset and his visits to Leicester.

Was Edward IV gay and/or bisexual? Dr John Ashdown-Hill thinks maybe so….

What follows was written entirely by Caroline Tilley, Senior Reporter of the Daily Gazette/Essex County Standard Secret marriages, scandalous affairs and one of the best-kept secrets in English history…. WHEN you have helped to unearth arguably the greatest historical find of the 21st century, some people might decide to put their feet up. Not Dr John… Continue reading Was Edward IV gay and/or bisexual? Dr John Ashdown-Hill thinks maybe so….

The Private life of Edward IV, by John Ashdown-Hill….

There are some very good biographies of Edward IV, by the likes of Pollard, Ross, Kleinke and Santiuste but surely none have tracked his movements, sometimes month by month, like this book does. This is not a full biography and it does not claim to be, but focuses on Edward’s romantic life – his known… Continue reading The Private life of Edward IV, by John Ashdown-Hill….

The True History of King Richard III (Part 2)

The Battle of St. Albans, 1455. Having been two years in the womb, Richard was naturally a forward child, and in no time at all he was not only walking but wearing a little suit of armour. The Duke of York had this made for him by the village blacksmith,  an advanced craftsman who doubled… Continue reading The True History of King Richard III (Part 2)