The poppies at the Tower of London

This is The Roper Gate in Canterbury. Once the entrance to Place House. It was once owned by William Roper and Margaret Roper, daughter of Sir Thomas More. Just opposite is St Dunstan’s church, the final resting place of Sir Thomas More’s head.

This weekend I have been mostly reading about Kent and the English Civil Wars, also also making the most of this wonderful sunshine!

What have you been reading this weekend?

#seventeenthcentury #historypup #englishcivilwars #localhistory #historyofkent #kenthistory #history

James II, however, was held at a house on Court Street having been captured by Faversham sailors on the 11th December 1688, trying to flee England. His companion, Sir Edward Hales, had been recognised. He was detained at the home of the then Mayor, Thomas Southouse, for 3 days.

Faversham’s Court Street has links with two of the Stuart monarchs. Charles II was entertained by Captain John Trowts at his home on Court Street. Trowts was a royalist who had been with Charles during his exile. It was after his appointment as mayor in 1660 that Charles paid him a visit.

She holds a mask in her hand behind her back, referring to her contribution to the theatre. Then tucked up the sleeve of the same arm is a rolled-up parchment which is a nod to her work as a spy for King Charles II.

What’s everyone reading this weekend?

I’ve a pile of books I’m halfway through. So I decided I would try to finish London : The Executioner’s City by David Brandon & Alan Brooke.
There was an expo a couple of years ago on the subject which I unfortunately missed, so I bought the book 🤓

Lady Margaret Beaufort the matriarch of the Tudors.She was a great patron of culture, religion & education & contributed to Cambridge University’s church & refounded Christ’s College. #tudors #margaretbeaufort #womenshistory #16thcentury #britishlibrary #medievalwomen #medievalwomenintheirownwords

Reproduction of a bust thought to be of Ippolita Maria Sforza, 1472 by Francesco Laurana. She received an excellent education and this is one of her schoolbooks

#medievalwomen #medieval #books #history

My latest post on Substack is available. You can subscribe for free via my profile. Happy reading!

#stuarts #seventeenthcentury
#plot #gunpowderplot #guyfawkes #parliament #history

open.substack.com/pub/historyp...

Oare Gunpowder Works in Faversham is now a nature reserve and has a small visitors centre explaining the history. The park is open all year round but the aviators centre is open from mid-March to November on the weekends.

#localhistory #faversham #kent #history

Just been looking through some old photos on my phone and found this one of a copy of the oldest map of London from c1559. Photo taken at the Museum of London in 2022 before it closed.

#history #londonmuseum #earlymodernhistory #tudors #maps #londonmap

The Black Prince’s tomb at a recent visit to Canterbury Cathedral. Replicas of his ‘achievements’ can be seen above his tomb, but the originals can be seen in the cathedral’s exhibition #canterbury #blackprince #medievalhistory

The beautifully illuminated Faversham charter from 1546. In the top right hand corner you can see Henry VIII sitting on his throne. It would have been the town who paid for the charter and to have it illuminated.

I'm looking forward to seeing Martin Shaw's portrayal of Sir Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons at The Marlowe Theatre in March