Nell Gwyn, Sunken Medieval Towns and Alice in Wonderland's Legacy...
Here we are in September! The evenings are getting darker, the kids are getting ready to go back to school and I’m cosying up with a book or two...
Writing
I’ve been looking at a few different subjects over on the blog this month. First, a new book that tells us more about Nell Gwyn, actress and mistress of Charles II. I learned a lot about her, including some of her brilliant responses to the bickering that went on between Charles’ mistresses at court - sometimes in full costume and with props!
I also had a look at Reading’s legend about Queen Victoria and why her statue faces away from the town: many locals say it’s because she hated Reading and requested it placed this way as a personal, royal snub. In the post, I argue - after reading Victorian sources - why I think that this wasn’t actually the case.
I also posted a recipe for Tudor Marinated Oranges - they’re great with ham, roasted meats or with yoghurt or ice cream as a dessert and they’re based on a cookbook from 1587, although I have made some modern tweaks. There was also a visit to the Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, all about the story of Alice in Wonderland, its origins and legacy. I loved the light displays, original sketches and learning how Alice has influenced fashion, photography, cinema and art. The exhibition is still on until the end of the year, but you have to book in advance. Get your tickets here.
Have you heard of sunken Medieval towns? I wrote about a couple of these, off the coast of Yorkshire - one was once a thriving port, but ended up a victim of coastal erosion as early as the fourteenth century, when its buildings - including the church - fell into the sea. And if you love tea, cake and days out, there’s my post on afternoon teas for history and heritage lovers, with places such as Coombe Abbey, Ruthin Castle and Spa and the Dalmahoy Hotel.
I’ve also been involved in writing up some research for Tilehurst’s local Heritage Day which will be held on 18th September. Find more details here and come along, if you can.
Lots of new articles and posts planned for this month, but if there’s a subject you’d especially like to see me tackle, let me know by emailing me.
Reading
I’m still reading Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know by Karl Shaw, a book all about the British and European aristocracy and what they all got up to. I’m about half way through, and it’s really entertaining!
Next on my list is a book that examines the Roman invasion of Britain and also Dan Jones’ new book Powers and Thrones, which I pre-ordered in January and will be arriving in the next couple of days. Keep a look out on my Instagram for updates on those!
Did you see the BBC2 series on the Boleyns? I thought it was really well done. It was good to see the Boleyns and their influence as a family group at court rather than as isolated individuals. I’m also now really fascinated about Mary Boleyn, Anne’s sister, who is often overlooked. What did you think of it? If you didn’t catch it, the series is available on BBC iPlayer.
Sketching
The weather has been cooler lately but dry - and so I managed to get out sketching a couple of times this month, mostly around my local area. I worked on a series of watercolour paintings from Tilehurst near Reading, including one of The Plough, a pub that’s been serving ale since at least 1848. There was also The Golden Fleece, a Tudor building in York which I sketched in marker pens as part of a challenge on Instagram, and I took my sketchbook down to St Michael’s churchyard on Sunday and sketched there for an hour, too!
You can see all my sketches here on my Instagram @sketcherjoey.
Some tickets are still available for my sketching workshop in Caversham on 11th September, where I’ll take you through how to draw and add character when sketching historical buildings. Find out more here.
I’m also working on a themed piece for an exhibition I’ll be contributing to in November.
Exciting times!
History News
I loved this exciting news about the finding of a lost monastery run by Saxon Queen, Cynethryth.
First we had camping, then glamping. But have you heard of ‘champing’, staying overnight in a Medieval church, with tea and coffee? You need to bring your own bedding, though. More here.
Last month protesters claimed that they were seizing Edinburgh Castle under the terms of the Magna Carta.
Fan of Queen Victoria? I really loved seeing her diamond and sapphire coronet at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last week. It’s in the jewellery section, Rooms 91-93.
Treasure has been found in Wales - that was buried nearly 3,000 years ago. Find out more here.
And finally, imagine having a real, 800-year old chain-mail hauberk stored in your garden shed…
Thanks for reading! Stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and I’ll see you again in October, when I’ll have lots of spooky posts planned. Stay well!