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A glimpse of medieval history at Exeter Cathedral

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to explore a room in Exeter Cathedral I had not seen before when I joined a tour with the Devon Buildings Group and Cathedral Archaeologist, John Allan.

Exeter Cathedral is one of Europe’s great cathedrals, a magnificent example of medieval architecture from the 12th to 14th centuries. I’ve visited the cathedral many times, and stood in awe wondering at the towering vaulted ceiling and magnificent stained glass. I’ve searched for the tomb effigies of people from my research and wandered through the many chapels. I'd never climbed the tight, winding stone staircase to …

The Feisty Women of St Nicholas Priory, Exeter

St Nichoals Priory, one of Exeter's oldest buildings 

If you turn away from the bustle of Fore Street in Exeter and take a stroll down a narrow path known as The Mint, you will come to St Nicholas Priory. Today it is a tranquil place, with shady gardens and ancient walls of red Heavitree stone. Had you walked that way on a summer’s day in 1536, you’d have been caught up in a commotion, with the voices of angry women …

Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire: Princess Elizabeth passes by on her journey to Woodstock

Today Aston Rowant is a tranquil village with pretty thatched cottages, a village green and the charming parish church of St Peter and St Paul. The village lies on the edge of the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire, just off the M40. However, in the sixteenth century, the main road from London to Oxford may have run along what is now Church Lane, next to the church.

History touched this quiet little village when, one morning in May 1554, Princess Elizabeth passed by.

A Parakito for the Queen — Sir John Gilbert

In the spring of 1596 Sir John Gilbert presented Queen Elizabeth I with an exotic gift.

He was responding to a request from Sir Robert Cecil, Principal Secretary of State, conveyed by his brother Adrian. Queen Elizabeth apparently heard that Sir John had a 'parakito'. Parrots and parakeets were rare and desirable at this time, and the queen wanted one for herself.

The record does not tell us what species of parrot, parakeet or macaw, was involved. The photo shows a …

Caps, Kerchers and Coifs

16th century women’s informal and workaday headgear

Most of the familiar portraits of sixteenth century women show wealthy individuals, dressed in their best, wearing elaborate headdresses in a variety of styles. Sometimes some hair shows at the front, as with the French hood below, while with other headdresses, like the English gable hood also shown, the hair is completely out of sight. 

The expectation that women of …