The Battle of Pwll Melyn, 5 May,1405.

The Battle of Pwll Melyn (Yellow Pool in English) was, in retrospect, the turning point for Henry IV. Up to this time, his enemies had largely held the initiative and were a real threat to him. This was to be the last time his forces were engaged in a full-scale battle against them. (1) Owain Glyndŵr‘s… Continue reading The Battle of Pwll Melyn, 5 May,1405.

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 …

Pedro I of Castile – an important ancestor of the House of York.

King Pedro I of Castile and Leon, known to some as ‘Pedro the Cruel’ and to others as ‘Pedro the Just’ was born in Burgos on 30 August 1334. His parents were Alphonso XI, King of Castile and Leon and Maria of Portugal, Alphonso’s queen and double cousin. Alphonso also had a mistress, Eleanor de… Continue reading Pedro I of Castile – an important ancestor of the House of York.

Guy Ritchie’s inheritance blooper on Netflix….

There’s a new “blockbuster” coming up on Netflix. It’s called The Gentlemen, and is described as follows: “….Army captain Eddie Horniman is working for the UN abroad when he learns his aristocratic dad has died….everyone expects Eddie’s older brother Freddy to become next Duke of Halstead and inherit the estate…but his father has disinherited Freddy… Continue reading Guy Ritchie’s inheritance blooper on Netflix….

The early Hollands – or Holands

Upholland is a village in Lancashire, about 4 miles from Wigan and these days only just outside Greater Manchester. It was formerly the HQ of the Lancashire gentry family of Holland. (Up until the 15th Century, it was often, if not invariably, spelt ‘Holand’, but I will stick with the modern spelling for consistency.) The… Continue reading The early Hollands – or Holands

A forgotten Mortimer

Two of the children of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, are relatively famous. Edmund the 5th Earl, who was involved in the Southampton Plot, and Anne Mortimer who is the ancestress of anyone who is anybody in England – and many others besides. The younger son, Roger, who died at some point after 1405… Continue reading A forgotten Mortimer

The last Hugh Mortimer of Richard’s Castle.

Richard’s Castle, on the border of Shropshire and Herefordshire, was founded by a Norman knight called Richard Scrob or FitzScrob. This is how it received its name. The manor eventually passed from Richard’s line and was owned by a junior branch of the Mortimers, the Mortimers of Attleborough. In 1264, Hugh Mortimer was forced to… Continue reading The last Hugh Mortimer of Richard’s Castle.

Living amid medieval Mortimers….!

  According to this link: “The Herefordshire home of the late John Challis – famous for playing Boycie in [the] iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses – has been put up for sale.” Much as I love Boycie (I’m delighted when Only Fools and Horses and Green Green Grass of Home are repeated on TV), it’s… Continue reading Living amid medieval Mortimers….!

‘Fair Rosamund’

This locomotive ‘Fair Rosamund’ was the only one of its class to carry a name. It was, of course, named after Rosamund Clifford and usually worked on the Great Western Railway’s Woodstock branch, near Oxford. Rosamund Clifford (mistress of Henry II) came from Clifford Castle near Hay in the Marches. This castle was associated with… Continue reading ‘Fair Rosamund’

The appointment of women to the Garter. (Medieval era).

I have been trying to make sense of the method by which women were appointed to the Garter in the middle ages, and have concluded there was no system. Of course, as with the knights, who were nominally ‘elected’ by the other knights, it all came down to royal favour. But with the knights, there… Continue reading The appointment of women to the Garter. (Medieval era).