A survivor of the Dissolution of the Monasteries
and, it's The Tudors next!
Hello fellow history lover!
This week:
Hailes Abbey. I thought none of it had survived the dissolution, I was wrong.
The Georgians Online History Festival last weekend was so well received! The next is already on sale:
The Tudors Online History Festival will take place in November. Tickets are on sale now - Click Here
Was Henry VIII infertile? - discussed on ‘Tea Time History Chat Live’ - click here to watch on Youtube.
The Anne Boleyn Tour Map!
John Knox was this week’s Deceased Git in History After Dark. Scroll down for the link.
Hailes Abbey - I thought nothing had survived, I was wrong!
Dissolved on Christmas Eve 1539, little now remains of the Cistercian Abbey at Hailes in Gloucestershire. It’s a picturesque ruin from which only fragments of its former glory remain….or is it?
On contacting English Heritage, ahead of taking ‘The Private Life of Anne Boleyn’ tour group there this summer, they also suggested I take a look inside the church nearby. Wow! I am so glad I did.
This, unassuming little parish church actually predates the abbey, which was founded in 1246. The church was absorbed into the monastic complex and the congregation displaced. In November 1251 a dedication service was held at the new abbey to which Henry III and his wife Queen Eleanor attended, as well as the king’s younger brother, Richard Duke of Cornwall, who was the abbey’s founder.
Inside is a delight of medieval wall paintings. I’m unclear as to how either the church, or its paintings have survived. Many abbey churches became parish churches following their surrender so perhaps this one reverted to its former use. The paintings must have been whitewashed over, as they were elsewhere, and only much later rediscovered.
For more photos please visit my Patreon - click here.
The Tudors Online History Festival
After the success of our second Online History Festival, where we bring you 6 historian talks, a live Q&A session and a live closing event, all for the cost of one in-person talk at a history festival, the third one is now on sale!
As I write this, there are 2 Early Bird tickets remaining (£18). After these have gone tickets will be £20 each or, if you are a member of my Patreon, you can get your ticket for £18 with you member perk of 10% off event tickets.
If you missed The Georgians Online History Festival, you can purchase a bundle of the talks as an add-on to the ticket for The Tudors Festival.
Was Henry VIII infertile?
Rebecca, a member of my Patreon, posted an article into our group regarding Henry VIII’s issues with siring a male heir. The article was a paper which had been published in The Journal of Interdisciplinary History. I decided to review it on this week’s Tea Time History Chat live. I also uploaded my copy of the paper, with my notes added, to Patreon - you can find that by clicking here.
Tea Time History Chat Live this week:
My next ‘normal’ livestream will be on Wednesday 12th April at 1pm because this Wednesday I will be in London on a history fact finding mission! Look out on Youtube and Instagram for impromptu lives on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2024
I wanted to take the opportunity to share this wonderful illustration which Kathryn Holeman has done for me of The Anne Boleyn Tour. The Anne Boleyn Tour takes place each May from 16th - 20th May, staying at Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, Hever Castle, and visiting Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London. We are joined along the way by historians, and expert guides. Gareth Russell is tour historian and with us for the entire trip. Tracy Borman and Kate McCaffrey will join us in 2024, for special talks, and Jay Britton - The Tudor Songbook performs a private concert for us.
Our after-hours tour of ‘Hidden Hever’ is followed by dinner in the Great Hall of Hever Castle! Our trip to Hampton Court Palace includes a guided tour by palace expert Sarah Slater (and of course Gareth’e next book is about the Palace!). On the 19th May, the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution, we visit the place in which Anne was beheaded and rests in peace, the Tower of London.
The tour is almost sold out so if you are interested in a post, please click on the button below to check out full details of the tour, or to book click here.
If you have already been in this tour, I have out together a range of souvenirs available to purchase.
History After Dark
This week we discussed John Know. Misogynist or man of conviction?
Wishing you a great week!
Philippa x