Portrait of Catherine of Aragon at Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.
Bury St Edmunds Abbey and Gardens. Photo May 2015
The ruins of the Abbey (former burial place of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk) have been made into a nice garden space that I spent a while wandering around when I was there.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Photo May 2015
I thought I would celebrate the 125th birthday of the National Trust by posting a photo from one of the properties in their care that I visited on my last trip over. If I remember correctly, this is basically my first view of the Hall after coming around the hedges after the short walk over from the car park.
Bedroom at the Shakespeare Birthplace. Photo May 2015
I think this is the bedroom that is traditionally said to be where Shakespeare was born. I chose this in honor of starting the Shakespeare 2020 Project where I’m joining William Shakespeare’s Star Wars author Ian Doescher’s reading of all the works of Shakespeare this year. I made an attempt to read and/or watch all of the plays between 2014 (450th anniversary of the Bard’s birth) and 2016 (400th anniversary of his death) but only made about 1/3 of the way. I’m trying again this year and, using Ian’s schedule, I think I’ll actually do it. Once I figured out that you really only need to read about one act a day, it doesn’t seem quite so daunting. I have the Shakespeare Pro app on my iPad and iPhone so I will have the plays handy most of the time!
Books
We’ve got a couple of books that came out last year in the UK that will be out in the US to start the new year:
First is Melita Thomas’ The House of Grey: Friends & Foes of Kings which came out last fall in the UK.
Next is the second edition of Tudor Folk Tales by Dave Tonge that will be out in paperback in the US.
And a few new releases at the end of January:
First is an academic work by Alexander Samson Mary and Philip: The Marriage of Tudor England and Habsburg Spain
And second is Sir Francis Bryan: Henry VIII’s Most Notorious Ambassador by Sarah-Beth Watkins:
Events
The annual Katharine of Aragon Festival will be held at Peterborough Cathedral from January 23 – 26, 2020. This year’s program features, among other things, a talk by Melita Thomas and evening of music, drama, and dance from Spain.
Continuing Exhibition
The Bacton Altar Cloth at Hampton Court Palace – See the Bacton Altar Cloth, a rare survival of Elizabethan dress worn by Elizabeth I and the iconic Rainbow Portrait, this autumn at Hampton Court Palace. The cloth will be on display from October 12, 2019 through February 23, 2020.
Looking down through the interior of Rochester Castle. Photo May 2015.
This is basically the opposite view of Picture of the Week #551 but I think it gives a better perspective on just how darn tall that keep is!
Forebuilding of Castle Rising, Norfolk. Photo May 2015.
The apse of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.
The ruins of Castle Acre Priory viewed from Priory Lane. Photo May 2015.
This was on the short walk between the place I stayed in the village and the ruins of the priory.
(BTW – I’m moving the Pictures of the Week to the weekend for the time being since that’s when I actually have more time these days!)
But there’s a lot of stuff coming in 2020!
(2020!! How is that possible?!?)
Dining and kitchen area at the Shakespeare Birthplace. Photo May 2015
As much as I love looking at the kitchens in the old castles and houses when I travel, today (Thanksgiving in the US) is definitely a day I appreciate modern kitchen appliances!
Gardens at Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Photo May 2015.
Outside the walls of Kenilworth Castle. Photo May 2015.
This is a little late because I’ve been really, really busy and then I got really, really sick (still am, actually). This is one of those times that I’m pretty sure that correlation equals causation!
Books
Michael Hicks’ Richard III: The Self-Made King came out last month in the UK and will be out near the end of November in the US.
In new book releases this month, Anne Boleyn: 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan was released on November 1 in the UK and will be out on December 1 in the US.
And one I’m very much looking forward to – The Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort is out on November 7 in the UK and will be out in the US in 2020.
Continuing Exhibition
The Bacton Altar Cloth at Hampton Court Palace – See the Bacton Altar Cloth, a rare survival of Elizabethan dress worn by Elizabeth I and the iconic Rainbow Portrait, this autumn at Hampton Court Palace. The cloth will be on display from October 12, 2019 through February 23, 2020.
The Many Faces of Tudor England opened at The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth (England) on March 18 and will run through the of the year. Admission to the exhibit is including with the admission to the museum.
Reproduction clothing of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Oxburgh Hall. Photo May 2015.
In honor of the anniversary of Henry VII’s coronation today! Henry VII and Elizabeth of York visited Oxburgh in the late 1490s and these reproduction outfits were on display on the upper floor of the Hall when I visited.
At Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.
Sorry this is a day late – my fault this time, not my webhost. We were hosting a conference the last two days at work and I was just too busy to do anything else!
The town of Blakeney, England, viewed from the Norfolk Coast Path. Photo May 2015
As I mentioned back in Picture of the Week #427, this town has long been an interest of mine because of possible ties to my mother’s family, so it was a thrill to get a chance to visit in person. Blakeney was an important seaport from medieval times until about 20th century when it silted over too much to be commercially useful. It’s a nice seaside holiday town now though!
Norwich Cathedral. Photo May 2015
(This is a day late since my webhost was having issues yesterday. Frustrating, but at least it wasn’t something that I goofed up myself!)
In the cloisters of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.
