English Heritage, in association with the History Channel, has launched EHTV. There is a variety of subjects and time periods covered and you can also subscribe to it as a video podcast.

Well, I’m not, but I wish I was since I’m really tired of the hot and dry summer here in Texas.

From the BBC:

Seven horse riders in period costume are aiming to retrace the route taken by Henry Tudor more than 500 years ago from Pembrokeshire to Leicestershire.

On Sunday they started the journey taken by Henry Tudor which culminated in the defeat of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Setting off from Dale near Milford Haven, the riders plan to take six days to travel more than 100 miles.

The Henry Tudor Ride aims to raise over £50,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund.

Full article (with photos)

And here’s a second article with a larger photo of the riders in costume.

From The Times Online

The barrel of the cannon had been plugged with a tampion of wood and sealed with candle wax by sailors more than 400 years ago.

The stale air of another age whistled out with a hiss when the seal was broken finally last week. Archaeologists gathered around the weapon could smell the gunpowder and hydrogen sulphide as it escaped.

The cannon is one of a set that comprises the first archaeological evidence of a revolution in weaponry that took place during the reign of Elizabeth I – a revolution upon which an empire would be built.
…
A replica is to be cast in iron, transported to a quarry in the Midlands and fired at a replica of the side of an Elizabethan ship.

Ballistics experts will measure its range. The archaeologists will examine its handling and recoil, and the damage that it could inflict.

Full article

This was sent to me by Councillor Fletcher. Sounds like a neat idea!

27 June 2008

Henry VIII’s flagship to sail again?

Heritage plans set out by Conservative Councillor

Henry the Eighth’s great flagship could sail again from Woolwich if an idea set out this week gets enough support. Greenwich Councillor Nigel Fletcher made the suggestion at a meeting of Greenwich Council during a debate on the Borough’s heritage.

Cllr. Fletcher, who is Greenwich Conservatives’ spokesman for Culture, had tabled a motion calling on the Council to draw up plans to celebrate the rich history of the Borough of Greenwich, and in particular to devise plans to mark properly the 500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII, who came to the throne in 1509. In an unusual move, the ruling Labour Group on the Council agreed to support the Conservative motion, which then passed unanimously. During the debate, Cllr Fletcher suggested the possibility of rebuilding the Tudor warship ‘Henri Grace a Dieu’ , which was launched at Woolwich in 1514 and was popularly known as ‘The Great Harry.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Fletcher said:

‘I think an idea like this could make a real positive contribution to the life of our Borough, and I hope people will support it. It would tie together all the various elements of our history: the Royal heritage and maritime tradition, but also the history of the people of the borough. The Royal Dockyard at Woolwich was founded for the building of the Great Harry, so 500 years on I think it would be a fitting way to mark the regeneration of the area today.

‘Businesses and private donors could help raise the finance to build the ship, whilst trade apprentices could benefit from helping with the design and building. It could showcase local arts and crafts, and schoolchildren could be involved in projects to learn about it during the process. When it’s finished, it could be used as a sail training vessel, helping disadvantaged young people and others to learn new skills and work together in a team - there are many charities which do amazing work turning round young lives with such activities.

‘Beyond all that, we would have a great asset we could take pride in and celebrate, in time for the anniversary of the launch of the original ship in 2014. Income from tourists and corporate functions would be able to support its charitable work, and it would be great to have a fully sailing flagship for Woolwich to complement the much-loved Cutty Sark at Greenwich, and add to our heritage offer by bringing alive the Tudor period.’

Anyone wishing to register their support or interest is asked to contact Cllr. Fletcher directly at nigel@nigelfletcher.org

I got a huge kick out of this.

From The Daily Mail:

The instruction booklet was a little worse for wear. But then it does date back to 1577.

That didn’t stop a group of gardening enthusiasts using it to recreate an Elizabethan watering contraption known as the “Great Squirt”.

Full article, complete with a drawing of the original and a photo of the recreation.

It’s just slightly past our period, but this was too good not to share. Since I know some of you are fellow needleworkers or are interested in historical fashion, I thought some readers might find this interesting.

Welcome to Plimoth Plantation’s newest blog. The Embroiderers’ Story will chronicle the progress of a particular project being carried out by the members of Plimoth Plantation’s Colonial Wardrobe & Textiles Department, along with essential help and support from members of the historic needlework community.

Over the next year, we will be recreating a 17th-century embroidered jacket, such as that worn by Dorothy Cary, later Viscountess Rochford, in this portrait dated c. 1614-1618. The work will be done entirely by hand, using 17th-century techniques and modern materials that most closely replicate the original linen cloth and silk and metal threads.

Here is the rest of the introductory post and you can find the newest entries on the main blog page.

(Found via Lavender Rose Ramblings who will be stitching on the project! Congrats!)

For those of you with access to BBC2:

A FEAST of a boar’s head, peacock complete with flaming beak and a salad in the design of the family coat of arms may not sound like a typical family Christmas lunch but back in Tudor days it was all part of the traditional festive atmosphere for the lords and ladies of the time, all eaten in full costume whilst musicians provided in-house entertainment.
This scene was recreated in the stately setting of Haddon Hall to bring the magic of a Tudor banqueting hall to life for a BBC2 documentary to be shown over Christmas.

A Tudor Feast at Christmas was filmed earlier this year as a follow up to the Tales from the Green Valley and will be shown at 9pm on Friday December 22.

Full article here

Folks in England in July will have a chance to experience Elizabethan life in Cornwall:

Experience Elizabethan life with the Newman family.

It’s July 15th 1581 and the Newman’s are at home in their cottage near the waterside at Saltash, Cornwall, proud that their young daughter, Mary, has married the now famous seafarer, Francis Drake.

However day-to-day Elizabethan life must go on, and you can experience how things might have been for the Newman family at a special open day at their old home in Culver Road, Saltash. Just to enter the simple portals of this 15th century building and breathe in the air of history is guaranteed to transport you back in time.

Join Mrs. Newman at work in the kitchen, or creating some blackwork in the upper rooms, before taking a leisurely look around the garden with the head of the house discovering plants of the age and how they were used in everyday life. If you want to relax you can take in the fabulous river views whilst being serenaded by the period musicians, as the children dress up in clothes of the period and enjoy games such as Cup and Ball or Nine Man Morris.

It’s a fun history lesson and a great day out and it all happens on Saturday July 15th at Mary Newman’s Cottage, Culver Road, Saltash from mid-day until 4.00 p.m. Adult admission is just £2.00 each and children can enjoy the fun for £1.00 each. For more information about the event or how to help contact 07767 444816.

From the a-little-too-authenic-a-recreation dept: Actor burned at the stake while playing Cranmer