The cover story on the March issue of BBC History Magazine is How Bloody Was Mary? by David Loades author of Mary Tudor: A Life. I haven’t had a chance to read the article yet, but it looks interesting!
Searching for Shakespeare
The National Portrait Gallery in London is marking its 150th anniversary and will be celebrating with a special exhibit on Shakespeare and the “Chandos” portrait, which was the first in the gallery’s collection. More information and a review of the exhibit from The Observer
There has been a slew of news articles out lately about the portraits of Shakespeare and this exhibit, so I’ve just selected a few to point to here:
Britain’s National Portrait Gallery unveils ‘true’ image of Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Likeliest Likeness, Forsooth
To be or not to be the Bard’s portrait?
The only true painting of Shakespeare – probably
(some original links have expired and have been removed)
Remains of Bermondsey Abbey on display
The major development on the Bermondsey Square site has provided the unprecedented opportunity for archaeologists to explore this important site.
Bermondsey Abbey was founded from Cluny in France shortly after the Norman conquest.
Katherine of Valois, grandmother of Henry VII, died at Bermondsey and Elizabeth Woodville (widow of Edward IV and mother of Elizabeth of York) retired there in Henry VII’s reign.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Media release from the Tamar Protection Society in Cornwall, England on their nearly
Mostly better now
Thanks for everyone’s patience while I’ve been sick over the past few weeks. I’m mostly on the mend now (even managed to work in the garden for a couple of hours today!) and will be back at posting and emailing and working on the site.
My Ladye Nevells Booke – British Library Fundraising campaign
The British Library is fundraising to secure the unique 16th-century music manuscript ‘My Ladye Nevells Booke’ for the nation. It is one of the finest Tudor music manuscripts in existence and contains 42 pieces for keyboard by William Byrd, the greatest English composer of his age.
Click for images and information on how you can donate
(original links have expired and have been removed)
A few small updates
Sorry for the lack of anything on this blog for nearly two weeks. We had our annual board meeting at work at the beginning of February and literaly 12 hours after it finished, I woke up sick and have been dealing with that ever since. I’m almost back to 100% now though!
Over the weekend I sorted through some links that I’ve had saved for a while and finally added them to the Links of Interest section. I also did some reading and note taking and now need to get down to the library and photocopy some of Statutes of the Realm…
Book News – The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper
Karen Harper, who has written several mysteries featuring Elizabeth I has now turned her pen to Mary Boleyn. The novel will be coming out at the end of February in the US and UK. You can pre-order it by clicking the link below and help support this website through the Amazon Associates program.
(original links have expired and have been removed)
A historic day at Catherine of Aragon service
A follow up to the post from Jan. 25, from Peterborough Today:
A UNIQUE aspect marked this year’s Katharine of Aragon commemorative service at Peterborough Cathedral.
For the first time since the Reformation, a Catholic Priest was invited to address the congregation at the service.
Full article here
(original links have expired and have been removed)
Statue for Raleigh Birthplace
From the BBC:
A new statue of Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh is to be unveiled at his birthplace in Devon.
Raleigh, who was born at Hayes Barton, near East Budleigh, brought back tobacco and potatoes to Britain from the New World, now the United States.
Another article on the Greenwich chapel
From The Bexley Times, with some new pictures:
A ROYAL chapel last seen more than 350 years ago and used by three generations of monarchs has been uncovered by gardeners.
The original brickwork of a 16th century royal chapel, built by Henry VII, was discovered during work to relay pavements at the Old Royal naval College, Greenwich.
Full article here
(original links have expired and have been removed)
How Henry VIII lost the Battle of the Bulge, and Ofsted went to war
An entertaining opinion piece from The Times Online:
Ofsted
Spanish Ambassador to honour Katherine of Aragon
PETERBOROUGH will get its first visit from the Spanish Ambassador on Monday as he pays tribute to one of history’s most famous figures.
Carlos Mirana is due to visit the city for the Katharine of Aragon commemorative service, as this year marks two decades’ of Peterborough’s twinning with Alcala, in Spain, where the first wife of Henry VIII was born.
The former queen is buried in Peterborough Cathedral, making the anniversary of her death an important fixture in the city’s calendar.
A service is due to take place on Monday, to mark the 470th anniversary of her death.
Full article here
(original links have expired and have been removed)
Tudor Papers Bought By Cambridge University
From the BBC:
The treasure trove of family and estate papers from Hengrave Hall, Suffolk – worth almost
Henry VII’s Chapel Found at Greenwich
The existence of the chapel, part of the Royal Palace of Placentia, a Tudor favourite but pulled down in the 17th century to be replaced by Greenwich Hospital – now the Old Naval College – has long been known from paintings and records.
But until a bulldozer’s bucket scraped against brickwork a month ago, no physical evidence of the chapel had ever been discovered.
Full article from The Telegraph here
(original links have expired and have been removed)
A few changes to the main page
I’ve made a couple of changes to the main page in my experimentation with Google Ads. I have been hesitant to put advertising on the site, but I would like to be able to have the site pay for itself now. I’ve been getting some money from purchases through the Cafe Press store, but right now it’s only bringing in about a quarter of the total yearly cost.
I’ll try to keep the ads to a minimum and as unobtrusive as possible. I’ll probably be messing around with stuff on and off over the next few weeks, so things may change for day to day!
THE TUDORS coming to Showtime
JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS TO STAR AS YOUNG HENRY VIII IN NEW SHOWTIME DRAMA SERIES, THE TUDORS
LOS ANGELES (January 19, 2006)
Article from the Scotsman on “The Virgin Queen”
LIKE A VIRGIN
A COSTUME drama about Queen Elizabeth I hardly seems the thing to create controversy, but that is exactly what Paula Milne’s new four-part series for BBC1, The Virgin Queen, has managed to provoke. However it’s not for the reason you might suspect – Milne’s Elizabeth may seem like a modern woman full of recognisable desires, but there is no suggestion that she physically consummated any of her relationships with her many suitors. The Virgin Queen remains a virgin. No, what is troubling purists is that Milne – despite being offered the services of Simon Schama and David Starkey – instead chose among her sources a populist book for teenagers – The Terrible Tudors, which is peppered with lavatory humour – which came from a list of books suggested to Milne by a London headmaster.
Full article here
(original links have expired and have been removed)
Possible portrait of Lady Jane Grey?
A portrait that had been hanging in a house in south-west London for the past 100 years may turn out to be the only authenticated portrait of Lady Jane.
Article from The Telegraph
Article from the Guardian
Report from Channel 4
Thank you to all the folks who pointed out these articles and reports!
Update: Here is a BBC article. They have an “enlarge image” view which shows a little more of the portrait, although not in any great detail.
(some original links have expired and have been removed)
Anne-Marie Duff “The Virgin Queen” on BBC1
The program that was on Masterpiece Theater in the States late last year will be starting on BBC1 on January 22. Check your local listings for times and when the rest of the show will air.
UPDATE: Link for the BBC page on the series: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/virginqueen/
