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’
Tag: legends
Why were moats desirable….?
I’ve always thought that moats were entirely for defence, but it seems no, there are other reasons as well, as you’ll read if you go here: 9 Myths About Medieval Moats and the Truth Behind Them | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net) Moats were also for showing off. The deeper and wider the moat, the more influential the… Continue reading Why were moats desirable….?
“Romantic and storied” St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall….
Once again the excellent Country Life magazine has come up with an interesting item, this time about St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall Unfortunately, considering this is a Country Life article, there aren’t many photographs, and none at all of the castle interior. But if you go here you’ll find some very exciting views of the approach… Continue reading “Romantic and storied” St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall….
RICHARD WHITTINGTON c.1350-1423. MERCER, MAYOR AND A MOST BENEVOLENT CITIZEN OF LONDON
Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri @sparkypus.com A delightful artist’s impression of ‘Richard Whittington dispensing his charities’. Artist Henrietta Ray before 1905 oil on canvas. Royal exchange. Even the most disinterested in history children would recognise the name Dick/Richard Whittington and also his best, and only friend, his cat, most of them being familiar with the rather delightful folk… Continue reading RICHARD WHITTINGTON c.1350-1423. MERCER, MAYOR AND A MOST BENEVOLENT CITIZEN OF LONDON
Meet Branwen, the Tower’s new raven….
The new raven at the Tower of London is to be called Branwen! According to Wikipedia : “….The earliest legend that connects the Tower with a raven is the euhemerised Welsh tale of the war against the Irish leader Matholwch who had mistreated the princess Branwen. Branwen’s brother Brân the Blessed (King of the Britons)… Continue reading Meet Branwen, the Tower’s new raven….
Was this a practice to prevent corpses from becoming revenants . . . .?
I have watched a documentary about these skeletons with stones in their mouths. Sorry, I can’t find a link to it online, but it was fascinating. While looking around Google for more about this, I came upon another site which explains more. And another, not otherwise worth the link, which contained the following tantalising passage:… Continue reading Was this a practice to prevent corpses from becoming revenants . . . .?
THE ETON CHAPEL WALL PAINTINGS – A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ANNE NEVILLE?
Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri sparkypus.com The Empress from the Eton Wall Paintings. Her eyes have been deliberately damaged. If you should happen to visit Eton College and enter the chapel there you will find the glorious range of medieval murals now known as the Eton Chapel Wall Paintings. Painted between 1479-87 and thought to be… Continue reading THE ETON CHAPEL WALL PAINTINGS – A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ANNE NEVILLE?
Henry VII, the posh schoolboy….?
This Kent Online article, about Sir Henry Wyatt (1460–1536) of Allington Castle, seems to be anti-Richard, but actually goes some way to exonerating him. And while I having sneaking admiration for the cat (see illustration below) which saved Wyatt from starvation in prison by bringing him pigeons, she isn’t what riveted my attention on the… Continue reading Henry VII, the posh schoolboy….?
The legend of Fowlescombe Manor….
It is a fact that in this modern age most of us frown upon the ancient practice of hunting with hounds, whether on horseback or not, but in times gone by, such things were commonplace and accepted. I’m not here to promote a debate on the rights and wrongs of hunting, but to mention a… Continue reading The legend of Fowlescombe Manor….
Did Edward IV’s daughter Bridget have an illegitimate child….?
We all know that Edward IV’s youngest daughter, Bridget (born 10th November 1480), became a nun…or at least, entered the Dominican priory at Dartford at the age of ten. Not as a nun then, of course, because she was too young, but maybe she was always intended for the Church. And Dartford was a priory… Continue reading Did Edward IV’s daughter Bridget have an illegitimate child….?
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