Sir John Wenlock’s Castle of Someries

  Sir John Wenlock was a known side-swapper during the Wars of the Roses. Although not as infamous as Thomas Stanley, Wenlock also frequently changed allegiances, starting out as a Lancastrian, then becoming a Yorkist, then a Warwick supporter and then back to being a Lancastrian again. He fought for the House of Lancaster at… Continue reading Sir John Wenlock’s Castle of Someries

Buy the home of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester? No, not THAT duke, the present one….!

Yes, of course I’ve heard of the present Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Funnily enough I seem to recall a past Richard, Duke of Gloucester too. However, I hadn’t heard of Barnwell Manor, which has until recently been the home of the present duke and duchess.  It’s in Northamptonshire, half a mile north of the… Continue reading Buy the home of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester? No, not THAT duke, the present one….!

Hanley Castle

Hanley Castle is located in the south-western part of Worcestershire, only a short distance from the Gloucestershire border. Today it is a small, agreeable village, notable for a school, an excellent pub, The Three Kings and an interesting church, consecrated in 1325. As the place name implies, there was once a castle here, although all… Continue reading Hanley Castle

What do you know of Greasley Castle….?

  I have to say that Greasley isn’t a castle that comes easily to mind, even though a former occupant fought for Richard III at Bosworth. It’s in Nottinghamshire, dates to the 14th century, and was larger and more opulent than Haddon Hall, which I do know, of course. A certain Nicholas de Cantelupe built… Continue reading What do you know of Greasley Castle….?

Murder at Pencoed Castle….

Last night I watched a documentary about the 2016 murder of call girl Georgina Symonds by her lover, millionaire Peter Morgan. The story of the murder is intriguing enough, but I found myself being more concerned about the scene of the crime, the picturesque ruins of Pencoed Castle in Monmouthshire. It’s situated at Llanmartin, near… Continue reading Murder at Pencoed Castle….

The history of castles….

We all love early castles. Well, we can love those from later ages, but they don’t have quite the same cachet as those wonderful old fortresses that always make us gasp when we see them. But how did they evolve? And why did they become obsolete except as tourist attractions and scenic splendours? This article… Continue reading The history of castles….

How would Thetford Priory have looked?

Thetford Priory was, of course, a Cluniac Priory. Whilst some walls stand away from the entrance, in other areas only the foundations remain and the Mowbray tomb locations are no longer marked, although those of the Howards, moved to Framlingham, remain. If only, I hear you say, some kind of restoration could take place. That would… Continue reading How would Thetford Priory have looked?

How would Thetford Priory have looked?

Originally posted on Mid Anglia Group, Richard III Society:
Thetford Priory was, of course, a Cluniac Priory. Whilst some walls stand away from the entrance, in other areas only the foundations remain and the Mowbray tomb locations are no longer marked, although those of the Howards, moved to Framlingham, remain. If only, I hear you…

TEN OF THE BEST MEDIEVAL ABBEYS IN BRITAIN.

We have lost so much over the centuries down to warfare, fire, wanton and quite senseless destruction.  Perhaps the most grievous loss has been that of our once magnificent Abbeys , which even in their ruinous states are still capable of moving us by their heartbreaking beauty, captured here in stunning and evocative photography Enjoy… Continue reading TEN OF THE BEST MEDIEVAL ABBEYS IN BRITAIN.

THE LOST PRIORY OF AMESBURY

The palatial 17thc mansion called Amesbury Abbey (now a private nursing home) stands in beautiful landscaped gardens near the curve of the Avon and on the edge of the Stonehenge World Heritage Landscape. The original monastic building from which it takes its name, the Fontrevraudine Priory of Amesbury, is long gone, a victim of Henry… Continue reading THE LOST PRIORY OF AMESBURY