Tudor locations in Suffolk
Inside an incongruous parish church, in the small Suffolk town of Framlingham, lie some of the most magnificent Tudor tombs you are likely to see anywhere. Although unfinished, they are glorious and contain the remains of some of the most important figures in Tudor history, including Thomas Howard, third Duke of Norfolk; his son, Henry … Read more
Would you like to come with me back to 1539? King Henry VIII is in negotiation to marry his fourth wife; Cromwell is at the height of his powers; Princess Mary’s life has never been in more jeopardy as she defies bowing to her father’s will, and the monasteries are crumbling under new reform. Are … Read more
I know that finding a great place to stay, one packed full of history and character, will be top of your wish list when planning your Tudor road trip. I recently wrote about West Stow Hall, a fabulous bed and breakfast just outside, and to the north of, Bury St Edmunds. The Swan at Lavenham, … Read more
How much do you know about the life and death of Mary Tudor, Queen of France? Maybe quite a bit, maybe not. But what about Mary’s final resting place, St Edmundsbury Abbey, in Bury St Edmunds? This place of great wealth and beauty was dissolved in 1539, just six years after Mary’s body was interred … Read more
To stand in the centre of Framlingham Castle, surrounded by its nearly 900-year-old walls, is to stand in the place where a renewed Catholic era dawned over England. For it was here, in July 1553, that the Lady Mary learnt that she had been accepted as rightful queen, following the death of her younger brother, … Read more
Is your idea of the perfect weekend get-away staying in a charming Tudor manor house, full of original features, nestled deep in the peaceful, English countryside and within reach of several fabulous, historic, Tudor properties? Would you like to wake up in the morning to bird song, a stroll around a pretty English garden before … Read more