Category: Picture of the Week

Remains of The Pleasance at Kenilworth Castle, built for Henry V. Photo May 2015.

Even though Kenilworth has many, many associations with Tudor history, the reason I’m featuring it today has to do with its ties to Henry V. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m doing the Shakespeare 2020 Project and we’re reading Henry V right now as it coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415). Henry V was at Kenilworth Castle when he received the infamous gift of tennis balls from the French king in Act I, Scene 2 of the play (probably based on a real incident).

Henry V had The Pleasance constructed along the mere, where it was reached by boat from the castle. It was eventually dismantled in the reign of Henry VIII and only the earthworks remain. To reach it now, you take a footpath from the castle until you reach the information plaque you see in the photo. It’s hard to appreciate the remains from ground level, so I’ve added a screen shot from Google Earth below with the location of where I took the photo from circled in blue.

Outside the walls of Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

The piers in the middle are the remains of the Tudor bridge that lead from the castle to a private garden.

Embroideries from the Marian Hangings at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk. Photo May 2015.

More pictures of some of the embroideries of Mary Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick on display at Oxburgh.

View of the Elizabethan Gardens at Kenilworth Castle from the steps up to the Norman keep. Photo May 2015.

South front of Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Photo May 2015

Portrait of Arthur Tudor at Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015

I’m glad I snapped this photo of Arthur’s portrait the last time I was at Hampton Court so now I have something to use for today – his 534th birthday!

Spiral stairs in Castle Rising, Norfolk. Photo May 2015.

Every time I go up or down one of these when visiting a castle, I think of the women having to climb them in all those clothes (regardless of the era). I’m such a klutz, I’m pretty sure I would have gotten my legs tangled in fabric and ended up with a concussion more than once.

Portrait of Elizabeth I in “The Arte of English Poesie”. Photo April 2016

I needed a picture of the birthday girl Elizabeth I and it looks like I don’t have any more in my 2015 trip photos, so I pulled this from my photos of Shakespeare in Print & Performance from 2016. This exhibit was put on by the Harry Ransom Center at my university to mark 400 years since Shakespeare’s death.

The Arte of English Poesie was printed in London by Richard Field in 1589 and was dedicated to Elizabeth I. The Latin caption translates as: “For the one who is ever the same, and no other.”

Royal arms and the motto of Richard III on his tomb in Leicester Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

Half groat of Henry VII at the Bosworth Battlefield visitor center. Photo May 2015.

The photo itself might not be great (sorry… displays like these can be difficult to photograph) the object is really interesting and a good example of some of the challenges in archaeology.

The Ashby de la Zouch Canal alongside the Bosworth Battlefield trail. Photo May 2015

With the lack of exercise thanks to the pandemic and the record-hot temps here in Central Texas (107F° – almost 42°C) I’ve been daydreaming of walking trails in the UK. I know they had their stretch of record heat recently too but even those temps would be a relief for me right now!

Vaulting in Norwich Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

Entrance to Kenilworth Castle. Photo May 2015.

Part of the ruins of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds. Photo May 2015.

Last week was the anniversary of Mary Tudor Brandon’s burial at the Abbey, so I thought I would use another picture of the ruins. From the shape of this section, I’m guessing it was the apse of the abbey church. I’m not 100% where in the ruins Mary’s original burial would have been, but her body was moved just a few years later to the church of St. Mary’s when the abbey was dissolved.

Replica of a dress of Mary I at Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

Garden center at Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk. Photo May 2015.

I loved this little space next to the information center at Castle Acre Priory which is evocative of a medieval walled garden. If I had a house with a yard I would totally do something like this!

Part of the kitchen area at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

I think this choice of picture is emblematic of the fact that I’ve been following a lot of cottagecore Tumblrs lately.

Portrait of Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.

Had to use an image of the birthday boy today!

In the keep of Rochester Castle. Photo May 2015.

The Quadrangle in the Upper Ward of Windsor Castle. Photo May 2015.