by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
At the eastern end of Westminster Abbey, beyond the high altar and through a screen of delicate stonework, lies Henry VII’s Lady Chapel. Near the centre stands the tomb of a king and queen who changed the course of English history. The king was Henry VII,...
by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Tudors (1485–1603)
In the north aisle of Peterborough Cathedral lies the tomb of a woman who once sat at the centre of European politics. Visitors often pause there longer than they expect. The inscription records her not as Queen of England but as Katherine, Dowager Princess of...
by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
At the far eastern end of Westminster Abbey stands one of the most remarkable buildings in England. The chapel appears almost impossibly delicate. Stone vaults spread across the ceiling like lace, their intricate fan patterns suspended above a space filled with royal...
by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
Visitors entering Leicester Cathedral often pause near a simple stone tomb set into the floor of the choir. The inscription bears only a name: Richard III. For centuries Richard’s reputation has been anything but simple. Few English monarchs have inspired such...
by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
At Warwick Castle the past occasionally interrupts the present. During our visit, one of the guides suddenly shouted across the courtyard: “A Warwick! A Warwick!!” Another voice answered the call, and within seconds two figures were racing up the castle walls,...
by Helen Kain | Mar 8, 2026 | Carousel People & Ideas, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
Few English kings left such a paradoxical legacy as Henry VI. He was deeply religious, thoughtful, and devoted to learning. Unlike many medieval rulers, he preferred prayer and scholarship to warfare or political intrigue. His personal piety was widely admired, and he...
