Plymouth, Shakespeare, Tudor Cheese Tartes and Reading Abbey...
How have you been? It was good to see some sunshine this month, and I made the most of it with some historic trips, made a batch of Tudor cheese ‘tartes’ and investigated some local history…
Writing
I was excited to get a couple of historic trips in this month. The first was a day in Plymouth, when I was invited on a tour of Elizabethan House ahead of its reopening. The house has undergone a £1.7m investment and is now open to reveal more about Plymouth’s history. It was an amazing experience - you’re encouraged to touch 500-year old door frames and gaze out of Tudor windows as you walk through to the different rooms, each one telling a story of the house’s past. It was definitely atmospheric and I loved it. I wrote up my experience in this blog post. I also sketched the building, in its beautiful piratey cobbled street, leaning against a Tudor wall. If you can get to Plymouth I’d definitely recommend a visit - bookings are now open via The Box.
I’ve also just returned from a couple of days in Stratford Upon Avon. I visited Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and New Place; had lunch in a pub that dates back to the 1300s and sipped on a frosty half-pint of ‘Shakes-Beer’ (it would have been rude not to). Obviously in a Shakespearean mood this month, on the blog I’ve written up 10 Facts About Shakespeare and 10 Things to Know About Stratford Upon Avon Before You Visit.
Other posts this month include these Tudor Tartes of Cheese which we’ve taken on picnics, work lunches and eaten for dinner. They’re based on a recipe from 1591 - let me know if you try them!
I also looked at some local history this month. First, a post about how Reading Abbey was so important back in the day, and another guest post for Voyager of History on Reading’s Role in the Wars of the Roses. You’d probably think that while Reading was 40 miles away from the nearest battle and 45 miles from Westminster it wouldn’t have seen much action during the fight for the throne in the 1400s. But I delved into the records and found a case of high treason, a royal wedding and a fall-out between two powerful men that happened right here in the cobbled streets of this sleepy Medieval cloth-making town. I also uncovered records about the dagger that murdered King Henry VI, kept over the bridge at Caversham Priory and shown to visitors as a saintly relic. I’d love you to have a read - find it here.
Over on Instagram, award-winning historic photographer Matt Emmett from Forgotten Heritage took over the account and shared his beautiful photography of places including Bazalgette’s Sewer, Stack Rock Fort, and Dover’s Maison Dieu. Claire from the blog Hisdoryan also did a great takeover this month, sharing with us some history from Wales, including St Martin’s church in Cwmyoy, her latest read and how you can get involved in #historygirls.
Reading
I finished reading The White Ship by Charles Spencer, which had some detailed information about the sinking of the White Ship in 1121, casting Henry I’s succession into turmoil. It starts at the reign of William the Conqueror, giving a background into how the events unravelled, and ends after the Anarchy.
I’ve also nearly finished Stephen Fry’s podcast series on Audible, Victorian Secrets which has been eye-opening. Never again will I think the Victorians were prim and proper!
I picked up Bill Bryson’s biography of William Shakespeare so I could learn more before my visit to Stratford. I love Bryson’s writing and it always makes me laugh. It’s short - I finished it in a couple of days - and learned quite a lot of new facts I didn’t know before.
The next book I’m reading is Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know: The Extraordinary Exploits of the British and European Aristocracy by Karl Shaw. I’ll keep you posted on what I find.
Sketching
I mentioned that I sketched Elizabethan House in Plymouth. I’m gradually getting back to sketching in person again, and it’s so much fun to sketch on location, soaking up the historic vibes with the sea just a few steps away and the seagulls squawking overhead.
Elizabethan House, Plymouth. My sketch.
I also did a few sketches at Stratford, which I’ll share on my Instagram soon @sketcherjoey and finished a couple of commissions of local buildings. If you’d like to commission a house portrait or painting of another building that’s special to you then please get in touch. I’m also running a series of workshops in Caversham if you’d like to sketch with me in person. We’ll be sketching the seventeenth century gazebo in Caversham Court Gardens. Here are the details.
History News
The Box, Plymouth is exhibiting some of the works of Joshua Reynolds relating to the Eliot family, until 5th September.
Thomas Becket - murder and the making of a saint is still available to see at The British Museum until 22 August.
Did you know that women used to stick pins in Henry VIII’s codpiece?
Check out a new series coming soon on BBC2 on The Boleyns and their rise to power.
Have a spare £675,000? You could buy this fourteenth-century house in Wales. Have a peek inside, here.
And finally, read this article and then daydream for the rest of the day about fairytale Scottish castles…
Thanks for reading! Stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and I’ll see you again in September. Stay well!