THE SECRETS OF BRITAIN’S ‘POMPEII’

The fenland around Peterborough is a liminal place, a world of still, deep water, rustling reeds, flat land and a big sky. A place full old legends of the Lantern Man and the Toad Man and the spectral dogs known as Black Shuck. A place full of memories, of hidden secrets… In 1999, a major… Continue reading THE SECRETS OF BRITAIN’S ‘POMPEII’

Dear Catherine …,

… Here is a little something to thank you for being married to me for so long because you definitely weren’t married to my brother, as the Pope confirmed. Sorry, for not being validly married to me because you were really married to my brother, as I decided, despite you giving birth to my first… Continue reading Dear Catherine …,

Wanted …

Digging for Britain is back, just twenty hours into the New Year, for series 10 (excluding a few specials). Alice Roberts is still the host, with Cat Jarman and Stuart Prior. The first episode included a Roman road in Bishop’s Stortford, an Iron Age matriarchy excavated in Dorset and a Lady of the Mercians (but… Continue reading Wanted …

An armillary sphere to fit a medieval finger….

  I didn’t know what an armillary sphere was until I saw this page and was prompted to look it up at Merriam Webster, where the definition is:- “ar·mil·la·ry sphere: an old astronomical instrument composed of rings showing the positions of important circles of the celestial sphere”. Then I realised that such spheres are often seen in… Continue reading An armillary sphere to fit a medieval finger….

Another Anglo-Saxon burial ground that’s also a treasure trove….

  Exciting finds are still being unearthed, this time another Anglo-Saxon burial ground that is proviing to be a trove of treasure and information. “….The site, in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, contained 138 graves, with 141 regular burials and five cremation burials, which makes it one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial grounds ever uncovered in Britain….” “….Items… Continue reading Another Anglo-Saxon burial ground that’s also a treasure trove….

A HAWKING RING OF THE TALBOT FAMILY

Recently the rains washed off some soil in a muddy Shropshire field, and yet another metal detectorist had a lucky find–a hawking ring from the Elizabethan period. The most intriguing thing to me was the very bold lettering spelling the name JOHN TALBOT AT GRAFTON across the band of the tiny ring. As it was… Continue reading A HAWKING RING OF THE TALBOT FAMILY

A lookalike of Richard’s ring….

  Is the modern ring below, found at this site , meant to be one of the three rings in the NPG portrait? See above. If so, which one? To me, the left ring and the one in the centre look about the same…. The one on the right is totally unlike the “star” ring… Continue reading A lookalike of Richard’s ring….

Eight treasures found in Powys….

    On Monday, 29th March, 2021, eight medieval and post-medieval finds in Powys (all found by metal detectorists) were declared treasure, and now a number of museums are hoping to acquire the various pieces. The finds consist of coins, finger rings and some personal items owned by wealthy members of Welsh society between the… Continue reading Eight treasures found in Powys….

ELIZABETH TALBOT, VISCOUNTESS LISLE, LADY ELEANOR BUTLER’S NIECE

Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri sparkypus.com   Possible portrait of Elizabeth Talbot, Viscountess Lisle c1468 Petrus Christus of Bruge Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.  Note the gleam of the pearls, the pattern of the brocade gown and the little gold pin used for pinning the fine lawn partlet onto the bodice.  How delicious! Could this charming portrait  be of Elizabeth… Continue reading ELIZABETH TALBOT, VISCOUNTESS LISLE, LADY ELEANOR BUTLER’S NIECE

Edward IV – A King of Bling – His Wardrobe Accounts

Reblogged from Edward IV – A King of Bling’s Wardrobe Accounts   The Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York and The Wardrobe Accounts of Edward the Fourth Edited by Nicolas Harris Nicolas Esq As demonstrated by my earlier posts on the subject I enjoy nothing more than a delve around privy purse/wardrobe expenses.  This… Continue reading Edward IV – A King of Bling – His Wardrobe Accounts