The 18th century saw the start of a series of Gin crazes, and the famous English institution of the Pub appears in the 19th century. And we look atRead More
37a The English at Drink I - Members Only
‘Ale doth comfort the heavy and troubled mind’. The story of the English and their drink to the 18th century; a story of nourishment, fellowship and resistance.
Margaret Omnibus 7 EPs 19-21 - Members Only
After her son become king, Margaret’s life was transformed and she was able to become the great magnate and princess she felt was her due – as great lord, benefactressRead More
Margaret 21 Death of a Princess - Members Only
By 1502 Margaret surely had nothing more to trouble her – her son’s legitimacy assures, heirs in place, status firmly established. But the wheel of Fortune had a fewRead More
Margaret 20 A Pious Legacy - Members Only
Margaret’s personal life and charitable activities were dominated by three priorities – piety, social and moral responsibility, and family, in common with many powerful women of the time. OneRead More
Margaret 19 Magnate - Members Only
From 1499, Margaret moved her main place of residence to Collyweston in Northamptonshire. Once there, she operated as the king’s agent as a regional magnate, with powers that onRead More
Sh 36e BCL Modernity and Beyond - Members Only
The 19th and 20th centuries saw the gradual arrival of universal suffrage and the bogey man – democracy. We look at theories of the British constitution and the once livelyRead More
Sh 36d BCL Enlightenment and Radicalism - Members Only
The 18th century saw a sea change in the attitudes towards constitutional reform. Enlightenment ideas drove a desire to define and systematise; and meanwhile the growth of a desireRead More
MB Omnibus 6 EPs 16-18 - Members Only
After Bosworth, to the victors, the spoils. Yet while with hindsight we might feel Margaret and her lad had reached a safe harbour – that’s not the wayRead More
Margaret 18 Securing the Dynasty - Members Only
The first 15 years of Henry VII’s reign felt as though they were on a knife edge – a stream of rebellions and external threats, a lack of legitimacy.Read More
Margaret 17 Mother in Law - Members Only
After the marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, what sort of role was left for Margaret and how did she fulfill the role of the King’s Mother?Read More
Margaret 16 Enflushment - Members Only
1485 marked a watershed in Margaret’s life; though at the time, no one would have been expecting a bowl of cherries
Sh 36c BCL Revolutions - Members Only
It all comes back to the 17th century really. At the start, a king who believes in the absolute divine right of kings, who calls parliament as he requires. AtRead More
Sh 36b King in Parliament - Members Only
The 14th to 16th centuries saw the increasingly professionalism of Common law, and the embedding of parliament at the centre of government. Jurists claimed that the people were sovereign, thoughRead More
MB Omnibus 5 EPs 13-15 - Members Only
Throughout the reign of Richard III, Margaret sought for ways to unseat the usurper who had acquired the throne of her ancestors and the King in Edward IV withRead More
Margaret 15 Gamble - Members Only
The big one – Henry Tudor risks all at Bosworth Field, while Margaret is forced to watch from the sidelines
Margaret 14 Rebel - Members Only
In 1483, someone turned Buckingham’s pretty head, and got him thinking about an even brighter future. Margaret Beaufort and Elizabeth Woodville saw that brighter future too.
Margaret 13 Murderer - Members Only
In 1483 Margaret had to decide whether to play with Richard, or try to destroy him. Especially after the Princes were locked in the Tower…what was she to do aboutRead More
Sh 35 Katherine Swynford with Caitlin Chapman - Members Only
Katherine Swynford’s life was full of drama. From a relatively lowly background, she became mistress to John of Gaunt, son of Edward III. Through her, descended the Tudor dynasty.Read More
Margaret 12 Usurpation - Members Only
The death of Edward IV came as a bit of a shock to England – and to Margaret and her attempts to rehabilitate Henry. But surely, with 2 sons andRead More
Margaret Omnibus 4 EPs 10-12 - Members Only
Through the most turbulent times in English politics, Margaret’s hopes fell, rose and fell again until in 1483 her son’s fortunes seemed dangerously threatened by one of the mostRead More
Margaret 11 Stanley - Members Only
While Jasper and Henry fled to Brittany, Margaret needed to find herself a husband of suitable status, but also well connected enough to help her protect her son andRead More
Margaret 10 Thirsty for Human Blood - Members Only
In 1471 Edward of York’s struggle for the throne of England would come to a conclusion, win or lose. His opponents were powerful – the Kingmaker, Margaret of Anjou, JasperRead More
Sh 34 John Clare – the Peasant Poet - Members Only
John Clare was for a while a sensation – a poet who gives us access to nature, and also the lives of England’s villagers and society in a time ofRead More
Margaret 7 The Great House - Members Only
The image is of the Great Hall at Haddon Hall. Note the wooden screen in front of the 3 arches, which in rutn lay before the Buttery and Pantry, andRead More
MB Omnibus 2 EPs 4-6 - Members Only
In an extraordinarily dramatic few years, the painfully young Margaret goes through the events that will shape her life – two marriages and a child.
Margaret 6 After Towton - Members Only
Margaret’s marriage to Henry Stafford appears to have started as it would go on – reasonably happily as far as we can tell. But the political chaos of theRead More
Margaret 5 Widow’s Weeds - Members Only
Though protected by the walls of Pembroke Castle, the death of Margaret’s husband left her vulnerable – something of a catch on the marriage market. Margaret, probably on the advice andRead More
Margaret 4 A Short Marriage - Members Only
Against a background of increasing political turmoil and military violence, Margaret turned 12 and was married in 1455. Despite her tender age, she was soon pregnant as she and EdmundRead More
Sh 33 Thomas Gresham - Members Only
Written up as a sort of national patriotic hero by the Victorians, Thomas Gresham was in fact as hard as nails, a deal maker, a money man, a controller. ButRead More
Margaret Omnibus 1 EPs 1-3 - Members Only
Margaret's reputation, lineage and childhood
Margaret 3 A Short Childhood - Members Only
Margaret's childhood was short, but seemingly happy
Marshal 26 No Finer Knight - Members Only
Just the French and the Grim Reaper to go...
Marshal Omnibus 8 EPs 23-26 - Members Only
From zero to hero and back to zero
25 Guardian - Members Only
As John lay dying at Newark he dictated his will. It laid down that Henry III’s minority should be managed by 13 Ordainers. So how did we get fromRead More
Marshal 24 The Barons’ War - Members Only
Enough was enough. The baron’s decide now is the time to bring their wayward king to heel.
Marshal 23 Rehabilitation - Members Only
John gets his fingers burned and needs friends. This is good news for Marshal – bad news for the Briouse family
Marshal Omnibus 7 EPs 20-22 - Members Only
From Richard I to John, changing fortunes for Marshal
Marshal 22 Irish Magnate - Members Only
A life or death struggle with his king
Marshal 21 Humiliation - Members Only
In 1203 John”s actions broke the loyalty of his French barons in Normandy and Anjou. And in the new world, Marshal got a taste of what living without the king’sRead More
Marshal 20 Unfailing Pride - Members Only
A French cook means a change of master for the Marshal
Marshal Omnibus 6 EPs17-19 - Members Only
William coping with 2 liege lords - Henry II and Richard I
Marshal 19 Coeur de Lion - Members Only
The arrival of a new boss is always a tricky moment. Especially if he thinks you tried to kill him.
Marshal 18 Magnate - Members Only
With the accession of Richard, Marshal faced an uncertain future at the hands of the man who he’d bested in battle. He waited at Fontvraud to hear his fate.Read More
Marshal 16 Holy Land - Members Only
William and his beloved Young King come to the parting of the ways
Marshal Omnibus 5 Eps 14-16 - Members Only
William and his beloved Young King are parted - reunited - and parted again
Marshal 15 The Fall - Members Only
Marshal was at the top of his game, feted and lauded. But success attracts the envious, and pride goes before a fall…
Marshal 14 Hubris - Members Only
William was now a big name on the tournament circuit, and it made him a tidy income. And he indulged himself in more ways than one, and gloried in hisRead More
Sh 31f LLASE Going Nuclear - Members Only
As lords intensified their demands, as pressure on land increased the search was on for more productive ways to farm the land. One impact was the introduction of open field systems andRead More
Sh 31e LLASE The Manor - Members Only
From the 9th century, the need of warfare and resulting taxation drove an ever greater bureaucracy. Meantime trade and population both grew, and towns with it. All these produced profoundRead More