This splendid Tudor gown of the day belonged to Margaret Howard, 4th Duchess of Norfolk. I love this English style, fitted gown in black which shows off all the glistening gold she is wearing in her forepart, sleeves and ruff - oh and not to mention the jewellery. I also love the arras hanging in the background with, I presume, the ducal coat of arms.
This is Bradgate Park: home of the Grey family in the early sixteenth century and recognised childhood home of Lady Jane Grey. OTD in 1544, her father, Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, completely lost his head - literally lost his head - to the executioner's axe. Everything started off so well in his career. A loyal servant of Henry VIII, he became a fixture at court circles. Having fallen out of favour with Edward Seymour, Lord Protector during the reign of Edward VI, but typical of an ambitious courtier of the day, Grey couldn’t leave things be and retired to Bradgate to seek to further the interests of his family.
