The Stuarts (1603—1714)
The Stuart era began in 1603 with the death of Queen Elizabeth I, who died childless. Her cousin, James VI of Scotland, became James I of England, uniting the long-warring nations of England and Scotland. The short Stuart period saw more than its fair share of...
The Tudors (1485—1603)
The Tudor dynasty's five sovereigns (six if you include the nine-day queen, Lady Jane Grey) feature among the most colourful and notable kings and queens in history. Henry VII, his son, Henry VIII, and his three children, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, ruled for...
The Old Palace, Hatfield House
The Old Palace at Hatfield was the childhood home for all three of Henry VIII's children but is most closely associated with Elizabeth I. During happy periods in her childhood, it was where Elizabeth shared her brother Edward's education. Later, it served as a refuge...
England 2023 Week #3—Northumberland to Bibury
The final leg of our journey started with a five-and-a-half-hour drive—from Beverley in Northumberland to Amberley, near Arundel, to attend the Goodwood Revival. As described on their website, the Revival is The only historic motor race meeting to be staged entirely...
England Week #2—Derbyshire to Northumberland
Our travel to England revolves around finding unusual places to stay within reach of castles, cathedrals and stately homes we want to visit. At the end of Week #1, we bid goodbye to the Russian Cottage on the Chatsworth Estate. From there, we drove north to Bamburgh...
England Week #1—London to Derbyshire
We've been back from England for a few weeks now and are now fully recombobulated. I was determined to promptly process all the photos I took on the journey and set myself the task of going through all 1693 photos at the rate of 100 a day. That's done (whew). So now...
Henry VIII’s Tetrad of Thomases—#4 Thomas Cranmer
Viewing the behaviour of Thomas #4, Cranmer, from a distance of 500+ years, it's difficult to determine if he was wily or wishy-washy—perhaps both. As part of the double act with Thomas #3 Cromwell, Cranmer played a vital role in ending Henry VIII's marriage to...
Henry VIII’s Tetrad of Thomases—#3 Thomas Cromwell
When Thomas #1, Cardinal Wolsey, fell from grace in 1529 for failure to procure an annulment for King Henry from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Thomas #3, Thomas Cromwell, succeeded Wolsey as Henry's chief advisor. Details of Cromwell's early life are sketchy,...
Henry VIII’s Tetrad of Thomases—#2 Thomas More
Thomas #2, Thomas More, acted in both legal and spiritual advisory capacities to King Henry VIII. He was born in London in 1478, the son of a lawyer and later judge, Sir John More. He attended Saint Anthony Grammar School in London while also working as a page to the...
Henry VIII’s Tetrad of Thomases—#1 Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
Cardinal Wolsey was born c 1475 in Ipswich, Suffolk, to a butcher and his wife. He attended Ipswich School, then Magdalen College School, before studying theology at Magdalen College, Oxford and graduating at age 15. He was Thomas #1 of Henry VIII's Tetrad of...
