Gloucester Cathedral witnessed the coronation of the young Henry III in 1216 and a visit from Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in 1535. The current cathedral, as we know it today, was predominantly built between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. It is known for its glorious Gothic architecture, tombs and the finest cloisters in the country.
The cathedral is also famous for its stunning medieval stained glass windows.
In this episode, I head to the south coast of England and the Isle of Wight.
I’m joined by Dominic Fontana, retired professor from Southampton University and expert in The Battle of the Solent. We explore both the French and English perspectives of this naval battle between Henry VIII and Francis I of France.
Name and Titles: Sir Rhys ap Thomas KG
Born: 1449, Carmarthenshire
Died: 1525.
Buried: Greyfriars, Carmarthen, later moved at the Dissolution to St Peter’s Church, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire.
In this blog we explore the life, death and burial of Rhys ap Thomas, hero of the Battle of Bosworth.
Find out about the Tomb of Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond and father to King Henry VII
In this episode, I head to the county of Leicestershire in the East Midlands.
I’m joined by Peter Liddle, Archaeologist and expert on Launde Abbey. We tour this incredible building and discover its connections to the Cromwell family.
The 1502 Progress fo Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, continued…
Having stayed overnight in Coberley Hall, the royal party was again on the move. As we read in the above quote, their destination was the Abbot of Gloucester’s fine manor house, which stood on a raised plateau west of Gloucester. The house was known as ‘The Vineyard’ because of the ancient vines cultivated on its terraces since at least the thirteenth century…
In this episode, I head to the county of Hampshire in southern England.
I’m joined by Aisha Al-Sadie, Learning and Heritage Officer at Winchester Cathedral. We tour this incredible building and stand in the exact same places where important Tudor events unfolded.
In this guide, we travel to West Sussex to visit three Tudor places.
Find out about the intriguing life and tomb of John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln.
As we prepare for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May, we can be sure that one place will provide the perfect, dazzling backdrop, just as it has done for countless centuries. I am talking, of course, about Westminster Abbey.
The abbey has a long and noble association with the English monarchy, stretching over 1000 years. While you may be glued to the spectacle of the coronation ceremony unfolding, you might be surprised to learn that the physical spaces that form the backdrop to the event are equally significant.
To appreciate the profound importance of the abbey to the coronation, the place in which, traditionally, a monarch is transmuted from human to divine, I have written this blog to summarise the abbey’s history, how and why it has become so deeply linked with the Crown, as well as pointing out a couple of feature and objects that come together to form the ‘theatre of coronation’….
