Category: Picture of the Week

Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

Now that we’re into April it’s time for a new theme for the Picture of the Week! And as you may have guessed, this month will feature Shakespeare’s Birthplace in honor of the Bard’s birthday later this month. (Even though the big anniversary this year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, I don’t have any recent photos of New Place since it was closed when I was there last year for the project to re-display the site.)

Looking through doorways of Palmer’s Farmhouse at Mary Arden’s Farm. Photo May 2015.

The Arden Family Farmhouse in Wilmcote, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

When the building that was formerly identified as Mary Arden’s Farm was discovered to actually belong to the Palmer Family, it was fortunate that the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust had also purchased the other Tudor-era building at the site, since THAT was the one that turned out to actually belong to the Arden Family! And it just happened to be the building that I could see out of my window when I stayed at the Mary Arden Inn right across the street. 🙂

Cozy kitchen scene at Mary Arden’s Farm. Photo May 2015.

The other side of Palmer’s Farmhouse at Mary Arden’s Farm near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

Palmer’s house at Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote (near Stratford-upon-Avon). Photo May 2015.

This month’s theme will start a few months of things related to Shakespeare! March will start things off with Mary Arden’s Farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother. The building above was discovered to actually be Palmer’s Farmhouse, but the Arden’s home is on the property too and will be featured later this month.

The Poorhouse of Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

The poorhouse buildings date from the 17th and 18th century and are built on the site of the medieval great hall. Some parts of the great hall were incorporated into the poorhouse and can be seen in the foreground of this picture. The fireplace and chimney to the far right in the photo date from the 16th century.

Mary I plaque at Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

Along the walls of Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

Framlingham Castle. Photo May 2015.

Later this month, Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VIII) will have her 500th birthday so I chose Framlingham Castle for the theme of the February Pictures of the Month. The castle was where Mary rallied her troops to her cause as she asserted her claim to the throne after the death of her brother Edward VI.

The grave of Catherine of Aragon at Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2016.

Rounding out Peterborough Cathedral month of the Picture of the Week, is, of course, the grave of Catherine of Aragon. When I visited in May of last year it was the cap of a 17-year journey of visiting all of the graves of the wives of Henry VIII. Friday marks the 480th anniversary of her burial at the Cathedral (which was actually an abbey at the time) and as you can see in the photos, people routinely leave pomegranates and other mementos at the gravesite.

South Aisle of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

Peterborough is probably best known among Tudor history fans as the burial place of Catherine of Aragon, but it was also the original burial place of Mary Queen of Scots after her execution at nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Mary’s body was later moved to Westminster Abbey after her son inherited the English throne as James I. The Scottish flags in the photo above are across the aisle from the area that is now marked as Mary’s former burial spot.

Looking from the choir through to the nave of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

West front of Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

I’m planning to do a monthly theme with the Pictures of the Week this year and since Catherine of Aragon was buried in Peterborough in January that’s going to be the first theme for 2016.

Blickling Hall and Gardens. Photo May 2015.

The Nutcracker Christmas Shop, Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

I was trying to think of something seasonally-appropriate to post today and then I remembered the Christmas store I saw in Stratford! (The photo above was taken out of the window of the Shakespeare Birthplace.)

Banners above the grave of Catherine of Aragon in Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

The foreground banner is the Royal Arms and the background banner are Catherine’s arms showing the symbols of her parents’ combined kingdoms.

The Tudor front of Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.

Robert Dudley’s marble fireplace in Leicester’s Gatehouse at Kenilworth Castle. Photo May 2015.

Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon – burial place of William Shakespeare and family. Photo May 2015.