March 28th, 2012
Beef Purses
Serves 8
I picked and cut most of their festival purses; and had not the old man come in with a whoo-bub against his daughter and the king’s son and scared my choughs from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in the whole army.
A Winter’s Tale, 4, 4
In Shakespeare’s day, meat turnovers like these were called “purses” because they looked like the small change holder people wore attached to their belt. The expression “cut purse” referred to a thief who cut the cord to steal the purse, an all too common occurrence in those days before policed streets.
The savory filling of tangy candied ginger and sweet dried fruit make these purses worth stealing! Enjoy them with a glass of cold ale before heading off to see your favorite production of Shakespeare or while watching one of the many great movies inspired by his work.
8 ounces ground round or ground sirloin
1/4 teaspoon ground rosemary
1/3 cup currants
6 dates, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped candied ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of freshly milled black pepper
pie dough, homemade or store bought
1 large egg, beaten
Place the beef, rosemary, currants, dates, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 1 hour before baking.
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Roll out the Renaissance Dough 1/8 inch thick on a floured work surface. Using a 3-inch round ring cutter, cut out 24 dough circles. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of the meat mixture onto each circle, fold in half, and pinch the edges to seal. Brush the purses with the egg and place on a well-greased, nonstick baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Original recipe: To make pursses or Cremitaries
Take a litle mary, small raysons, and Dates, let the stones bee taken away, these being beaten together in a Morter, season it with Ginger, Sinemon, and Sugar, then put it in a fine paste, and bake them or fry them, so done in the serving of them cast blaunch powder upon them:
The Good Husewifes Jewell, 1587
© Shakespeare’s Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook by Francine Segan.
March 19th, 2012
When most visitors arrive at Hampton Court Palace, they come through the stately gatehouse near the second, inner court, on the “Tudor side” of the palace. Once at the gatehouse, the eye is first drawn to is the astonishing astronomical clock that still functions in spite of being more than five hundred years old, although its mechanisms have been replaced at least once. According to Simon Thurley in his book, Hampton Court Palace, the clock not only tracks the time of day, it shows the phases of the moon, displays the month and quarter of the year, the date, the sun and star signs, and uniquely, the high water at London Bridge. Tidal information was especially important to those visiting by barge from London, as at low water London Bridge created dangerous rapids.
The gatehouse and rooms around the clock are also well known as they were the sumptuous chambers of Anne Boleyn. They were adapted for her as she, understandably, didn’t want to use Katharine of Aragon’s old rooms, which stand directly opposite hers – an interesting juxtaposition. The gatehouse is known today as Anne Boleyn’s gate, and sadly, work was still underway on Anne Boleyn’s apartments above that gate on the day the King had her executed. Her rooms today have been enveloped by, ironically, the Young Henry Exhibit as well as parts of the gift shops. However, as romantic as the notion may be, the gatehouse would not have been called Anne Boleyn’s Gate during the Tudor period. Alas, the name allegedly comes from the Victorian period, as do the entwined H&As in its ceiling.
March 3rd, 2012
Having close friends is an important part of the female experience from girlhood through womanhood. These friends might be especially valuable when the woman’s position is exalted, public, and potentially treacherous — such friendships take on an even more important role. When Oprah Winfrey started her empire she brought along Gayle King. When Kate Middleton was preparing to become Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge her sister Pippa was her constant companion. And when Anne Boleyn went to court to stay she took her friends, too. Among them was her longtime friend, who would ultimately become her chief Lady and Mistress of Robes, Meg Wyatt.
Ladies in waiting were companions at church, at cards, at dance, and at hunt. They tended to their mistress when she was ill, or anxious and also shared in her joy and pleasures. They did not do menial tasks — there were servants for that — but they did remain in charge of important elements of the Queen’s household, for example, her jewelry and her clothing. They were gatekeepers, and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I small bribes were often offered to her ladies for access to Her Grace. The Queen was expected to assist her maids of honor in becoming polished and finding a good match, and they were in turn to be loyal and obedient. Married women had more freedom, better rooms, and usually, closer contact with the queen.
In her excellent book, Ladies in Waiting, Anne Somerset quotes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Caroline as saying, “Courts are mysterious places … Intrigues, jealousies, heart-burnings, lies, dissimulations thrive in (courts)as mushrooms in a hot-bed.” This is exactly the kind of place where one wants to know whom one can trust. Somerset goes on to tell us that, “At a time when virtually every profession was an exclusively masculine preserve, the position of lady-in-waiting to the Queen was almost the only occupation that an upperclass Englishwoman could with propriety pursue.” Although direct control was out of their hands, the power of influence, of knowledge, of gossip, and of relationship networks was within the firm grasp of these ladies. Appointment was not only by the personal choice of the queen or the king, but a political decision as well. Queen Victoria’s first stand took place when her new Prime Minister, Robert Peel, meant to replace some of the ladies in her household to reflect the bipartisan English government and keep an even political balance. According to Maureen Waller in Sovereign Ladies, Victoria was adamant. “‘I cannot give up any of my ladies,’ she told him at their second meeting. ‘What, Ma’am!’ Peel queried, ‘Does your Majesty mean to retain them all?’ ‘All’, she replied.”
Keeping the political balance in mind was a concern during the Tudor years, too. Ladies from all of the important households were appointed to be among the Queen’s ladies, though she held her closest personal friends in closest confidence. Of course Queen Katherine of Aragon understandably preferred the ladies who had served her for most of her life right till her death. Henry told his sixth wife, Queen Kateryn Parr that she may, “choose whichever women she liked to pass the time with her in amusing manners or otherwise accompany her for her leisure.” Parr chose like-minded friends when she could. Queens often surrounded themselves with family members, hoping that they could trust in their loyalty because as the queen gained more influence, so advanced her family.
Sadly in Queen Anne Boleyn’s case, family seems to have been less than worthy of her generosity and trust. Among those thought to have betrayed her in the end were her sister-in-law, Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, and some of her Howard relatives. Among those better deserving of her friendship were the Wyatt sisters and Nan Zouche, all of whom shared Anne’s joie de vivre and reformist sympathies, and remained true friends to her till the end.
January 3rd, 2012
Sandra Byrd
with Kate Eaton
Surrounded by a double moat, this historic castle began life as a lowly farmhouse on land awarded to Walter de Hevere by William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1270, Walter de Hevere’s grandson, William, built an impressive stone gatehouse and bailey on the site of the farmhouse. Tall, crenellated twin towers flanked the gatehouse, featuring cross-shaped arrow slits, a portcullis and a drawbridge to defend the castle. St. Peter’s Church at Hever is adjacent to the castle, and dates back more than eight hundred years.
The Boleyn connection to the castle began in 1459, when the property came into the hands of Geoffrey Bullen. Bullen was a wealthy mercer, or dealer in expensive fabrics, who became Lord Mayor of London the same year. His rise in prominence, first as an alderman and then as Lord Mayor, would have required Sir Geoffrey to maintain a home befitting his station. He was responsible for transforming the stone fortification into a comfortable and impressive Tudor dwelling for his family. Geoffrey Bullen’s son, William, inherited the castle from his father, and then in 1505 passed it down to his own son, Sir Thomas Boleyn.
Historians don’t agree on whether or not Anne Boleyn was born at Hever Castle, but it’s certain she lived at least part of her childhood there. It isn’t hard to imagine Anne and her siblings, Mary and George, running through the ancient bailey walls, strolling along the nearby River Eden and exploring the imposing twin towers. Most certainly, the sturdy walls of the castle’s Long Gallery were the site of many leave-takings as both Anne Boleyn and her sister, Mary, traveled back and forth from England to France. An interesting architectural note, common among the great homes of this era—the sisters’ bedrooms were actually quite small and cramped in comparison with Hever Castle’s public rooms.
There were no doubt dozens of servants in a house this size, not only to care for the Boleyns and their home, but also to attend to the large stables and expansive grounds at Hever Castle. The expectation that the Boleyn family would entertain traveling nobility expanded the household regularly. Henry VIII, himself, did eventually come to this castle in the English countryside. Under the bows of an ancient oak, King Henry made known his affection for the fascinating Anne Boleyn. He would visit Hever Castle several times during his pursuit of Anne. This lovely castle with a fascinating history remained in the Boleyn family until the death of Thomas Boleyn in 1539, at which time it reverted to the Crown. Hever was among the properties Henry awarded to his wife Anne of Cleves when he divorced her.
Resources:
http://www.hevercastle.co.uk
http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/castles/hever.shtml
December 10th, 2011
by Wendy Pyatt
Tudor Christmas Traditions
Christmas and New Years was the greatest festival celebrated by the Tudors. Advent was a time of fasting; Christmas Eve was particularly strictly kept with no meat, cheese or eggs. Celebrations began on Christmas Day when the genealogy of Christ was sung while everyone held lighted tapers. The Monarch was required to attend mass and would be expected to wear new clothes. He would progress from the Privy Chamber to the Chapel Royal dressed in coronation robes of purple and/or scarlet complete with crown.
The whole 12 days of Christmas was celebrated (25th December – 6th January), but not every day was celebrated equally. All work stopped except looking after animals; spinning was even banned as this was the most common occupation, for women and flowers were placed around the spinning wheels. People would visit friends and it was seen as very much a community celebration. Work re-started on Plough Monday, the first Monday after 12th night.
In Tudor Times the most sumptuous feast were held on 25th Dec, 1st Jan and 6th Jan. In 1532/33, the preparation for the 12th night feast at Greenwich palace required the building of a temporary boiling and working house. Up to 24 courses would be served, much more than was needed for the guests but it was a status symbol. Left over food was always used to feed the poor.
Tudor Christmas had a definite purpose. Because society was very strictly organised, these celebrations acted as a pressure release, a time when everything was turned on its head, the world turned inside out and upside down. Certain sections of society were even allowed an unusual degree of freedom. For example, in ecclesiastical communities, the tradition of the boy bishop was practised. A choir or alter boy would be elected for a short period either on 6th December (St Nicholas Day) or 28th December (Holy Innocents Day) with the idea being that it showed the boys the honour and dignity of holy orders. This was banned in 1541 because it was seen as mocking the church authorities and by implication the head of the church, who of course was Henry VIII. However, the practice possibly dates back to the 10th century and never completely died out. The tradition is still continued at Hereford, Gloucester, Westminster (RC) and Salisbury cathedrals to this day.
There was a similar tradition in secular circles. They had the Lord of Misrule. He was like a mock king and supervised entertainments or rather unruly events involving drinking, revelry, role reversal and general chaos. One of the games the Tudors would have been familiar with was Blind Mans Bluff! The inspiration for this Lord of Misrule was the earlier 11th century tradition of The Feast of Fools.
Another example of role reversal which started in the Tudor period is that of Barring Out, where pupils would take possession of the school by locking the staff out until certain demands regarding playtimes and homework were met. It was particularly common in Northern counties and was usually around the 6th December which is St Nicholas Day (the patron saint of children).
A favorite Tudor Christmas tradition was the performing of plays. There are records from the early 16th century that both Oxford and Cambridge colleges employed travelling players in their Christmas entertainments. There are also records of a play being performed for Cardinal Wolsey at Grays Inn during Christmas 1526. Coventry mystery plays which the Coventry carol was written for, tell the story of Herod’s murder of the innocents. Mystery plays are still performed in Coventry even today.
The Tudors also possibly practiced the Viking custom of burning a Yule Log. The Log would be decorated on Christmas Eve for the 12 days of Christmas and then burned. It was considered lucky to keep some remains to help light the following years log.
All sports on Christmas day were banned by Henry VIII in 1541 (except archery of course). In theory gambling, tennis, bowls and other games were forbidden to all but the very wealthy except at Christmas! Jousting was also a popular sport during the Christmas period. In 1551, Edward VI passed a law that everyone had to walk to church on Christmas day; it’s still on the books today. A Tudor Christmas was always a 2 week period of concerted power, politics, and networking as the monarch would be surrounded by courtiers, nobility and other important people.
Originally published at www.localhistories.org
December 6th, 2011
by Wendy Pyatt
Tudor Christmas Decorations
The Tudors did not have Christmas trees, although they were around in the 16th century. Those are a Baltic/northern German tradition and even then, they are not recorded until about 1520. The first known record of a Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia.
The decorations the English in Tudor times would have used would have included natural evergreens like holly, ivy, yew, mistletoe, box and laurel. They would not have decorated their houses until Christmas Eve as it was thought to be unlucky to do it before then. The more modern tradition of fairy lights is said to originate from the 16th century “Legend of Martin Luther”. Luther was walking in the snow-covered woods and, seeing stars through the trees, was struck by their beauty. He took a tree home and put candles on it; that’s why we have fairy lights!
Tudor Christmas Carols
The earliest recorded collection of Christmas carols dates from 1521, published by Wynken de Worde, and includes The Boars Head Carol. Carol means “a dance with a song” and carols flourished throughout Tudor times as a way to celebrate and to spread the message of the nativity. Other Christmas carols the Tudors would have been familiar with include The Coventry Carol, While Shepherds Watched, The First Nowell, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Ding Dong Merrily on High (French in origin), In Dulci Jubilo, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Wassail carols, of which there are many, were also popular and most areas of the country have their own version.
Originally published at www.localhistories.org
November 21st, 2011
The art of courtly love and chivalric romance so popular during the early medieval period saw a revival during the Tudor era. Because the majority of noble marriages were arranged, with the focus being on financial or political gain, courtly love was a gentle, parrying game of flirtation wherein people might express true, heart-felt affections.
According to historian Eric Ives, “The courtier, the ‘perfect knight’, was supposed to sublimate his relations with the ladies of the court by choosing a ‘mistress’ and serving her faithfully and exclusively. He formed part of her circle, wooed her with poems, songs and gifts, and he might wear her favor and joust in her honor … in return, the suitor must look for one thing only, ‘kindness’ – understanding and platonic friendship.” Many of the plays and entertainments in Henry the Eighth’s court reflected these values and Henry himself, early in his reign, was very chivalrous and courtly indeed.
Andreas Capellanus, in his definitive twelfth century book, The Art of Courtly Love, set out to inform “lovers” which gifts could be offered, (among them a girdle, a purse, a ring, or gloves) and to clarify the signs and signals that indicated such a love game was underway – or on the wane. This way the participants, and those around them at court, would know that the game was afoot. Physical attraction was one of many factors in courtly love, but sexual expression was not necessarily an element of the relationship. Cappellanus further posits that a beautiful figure, excellence of character, and extreme readiness of speech are required for a man or woman to fall in love, with character being the most noble element
of all.
The longest game of courtly love, played out before all of Europe, was undoubtedly between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The relationship started out as courtly flirtation but as sometimes happened, it then progressed to a more serious, deeper connection with a significant goal in outcome and purpose. Although their courtly relationship did not follow each of the thirty-one rules Capellanus lists from the “King of Love,” it did dovetail with some of them – a few of which have been examined below.
Rule II. He who is not jealous cannot love. This rule immediately brings to mind the incident between Henry and Thomas Wyatt during a game of bowls. Thomas Wyatt used one of Anne’s ribbons and bauble to mark distance, and he meant to use it to provoke or test Henry’s jealousy. Henry, predictably, flew into a possessive bluster. Anne recovered nicely from Wyatt’s foolishness, but there was no further doubting that she was Caesar’s and not to be touched.
Rule IV. It is well known that love is always increasing or decreasing. One of the most extraordinary things about Henry’s affection for Anne is that she was able to not only capture it but build upon it over a remarkable period of time – seven years from 1525 when it was clear he had fallen for her, to 1533 when their public marriage took place – allegedly, without physical consummation. He did not become bored or disinterested in her companionship. This was no mean feat when one considers Henry’s short attention span. He wrote tender love letters to Anne, some of which still exist, a powerful demonstration of his growing love as Henry loathed writing.
Rule XI. It is not proper to love any woman whom one would be ashamed to seek to marry. Much has been made of the fact that Anne “held out” sexually from Henry for personal reasons, and that Henry wanted his heirs by her to be legitimate, two among other valid reasons why they did not simply have an affair. But there is strong evidence to suggest that Henry found Anne worthy of marriage – he crowned her –and took great pride in displaying her before all the court. In Anne it is clear that for some time Henry believed he’d found a spirited soul mate who was as vibrant as he was and he desired for her to be his wife.
Rule XIV. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value; difficulty of attainment makes it prized. We’re often reminded that Henry left his wife and broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during his pursuit to marry Anne, courting war and ill will in the process. But Anne, too, made sacrifices. Her child-bearing years were quickly slipping by; there was a rush to judgment as she was reviled by much of the populace as a usurper; she had no official role nor position; and, finally, there was no guarantee that she would even have her marriage. Both of them risked much. Only one of them, in the end, lost everything.
Rule XXVIII. A slight presumption causes a lover to suspect his beloved. In the end, it took very little to convince Henry that Anne had betrayed him, a ridiculous acceptance of circumstances that demanded Anne be in places she clearly was not and act in ways that would never have gone unnoticed and that were in stark contrast to her character. One must ask, why? Cappellanus answers that question for us, too. “…when love has definitely begun to decline, it quickly comes to an end unless something comes to save it.”
At the point when the King’s affections began their precipitous drop, long after their game of courtly love was over and well into their marriage, the only thing that could have saved Anne was the son she miscarried. Chivalric values included integrity, protecting the vulnerable, and acting with self-sacrificing honor. Sadly, Henry did not turn out to be the “perfect knight” Ives speaks of. In Capellanus’s concluding section, The Rejection of Love, he references, “…lovers who have been driven by love to think of killing their wives and they have even put them to a very cruel death – a thing which all will agree is an infamous crime.”
Unfortunately, this evil came to pass. In Anne’s final months, Henry was likely not driven to this crime by love of another woman, although he clearly had one in mind, but perhaps primarily out of love for himself, a nonvalorous motivation indeed.
Written by Sandra Byrd, this article first appeared at the website On The Tudor Trail. Please visit that site for a treasure of riches about Anne Boleyn.
September 5th, 2011
Tudor Women and Fashion Rules It’s hard to imagine being told what fabrics and colors you could wear, isn’t it? Sumptuary Laws in place during Tudor times regulated the wearing of rich fabrics to the upper classes, the number of meal courses to be served for specific guests, and the purchases of luxuries allowed for each social class. Henry VIII, in particular, was concerned about the rise of the wealthy merchant class with no connection to nobility, and so he revived and expanded the restrictions on clothing and other expenditures. For example, only members of the royalty were allowed to wear ermine, and only the nobility were allowed to wear clothing trimmed in fox or otter. Anne Boleyn was known for her stylish attire, she had it early and further developed it while in France. She brought French sophistication back to the English court and was known especially for her French hoods, and for adding each day a small, but different accessory to her wardrobe which was always fresh.
Tudor Women as Mothers Children were treasured in Tudor times as they are today. A woman would probably have had a child every one to two years. Many women died in childbirth due to poor medical hygiene, and the chance at least one of their children would die was significant. Consider that Catherine of Aragon is reported to have been pregnant at least six times, but had only one son who lived just a few days and one surviving daughter, Mary. Anne Boleyn was pregnant at least three times, perhaps four, but only Elizabeth survived. Kateryn Parr and Jane Seymour each bore one child and both women died of childbed fever. Even the most noble of women were not spared the grief of frequent miscarriages or stillborn children.
Giving birth for women of the noble class would have been a social event attended by the mother’s closest friends and a midwife arranged ahead of time. Doctors almost never attended births. Puerperal sepsis, or ‘childbed fever’, was common as handwashing was rarely practiced (by midwives or doctors.) A contemporary study for the UK’s National Institute for Health estimates the maternal death rate in the 16th century as 26 women per every 1,000 births. Compared to today’s figure in the UK of .11 per 1,000 women dying as a result of childbirth, you can see that childbirth was definitely a hazardous undertaking in Tudor times!
Tudor Women and Social Relationships Within the social structure of Tudor times, loyalty to family, especially family of origin, took precedence. For women of noble birth, that meant that advancing the social position of their families was their primary function. Oftentimes Anne Boleyn is seen as having been “pushed” toward marriage to Henry by a socially climbing family. The truth is, all families were social climbers and Thomas Boleyn was no different than other good men before and after in seeking to advance his house, often to disasterous consequence, but sometimes, to love. Betrothals and marriages, the ability to produce an heir and their connections as ladies-in-waiting to more highly-ranked nobles would have motivated the decisions made by and for noble women of this era.
The relationships they formed within noble circles would not only have been based upon similar personalities and interests, but also the other person’s ability to help them advance their family’s interests. It was common for young women in noble families to leave their families for extended periods to serve at court. One type of close relationship that was familiar to women of noble households was with long-time servants who served not only as employees but also as confidantes and go-betweens with others in the household. This is clearly seen in Meg Wyatt’s friendship with her longtime lady’s maid, Edithe.
Research Sources: Coventry.ac.uk; Elizabethan-era.org.uk; elizabethi.org; TudorsWiki; LocalHistories.org; NIH.gov
August 22nd, 2011
Sandra Byrd
with Kate Eaton
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a woman duing the Tudor era, which is when all three Ladies in Waiting books are set? Here are some interesting tidbits about the ways a woman’s life was both different and very much the same in the days of Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth.
Tudor Women Had Careers Like many of us today, some women during Tudor times worked outside the home as well as raising a family. Career choices for lower class working women in 1500s England included street vendor, baker, milliner, tailor, brewery worker, textile worker, household servant or seamstress. They were not allowed to act on the stage or work as doctors, lawyers or politicians. Noble women and members of the gentry had more genteel choices, but those still required hard work! Many were tapped to serve as ladies-in-waiting (much like a personal assistant) for a woman of higher rank. More senior ladies-in-waiting might also serve in positions such as Mistress of the Wardrobe. Imagine keeping up with Anne Boleyn’s wardrobe needs, which is what Meg Wyatt, as her Mistress of the Robes, did! Within noble households, you would also also find women working as governesses.
Tudor Women Trained to Run Households Even though many of us have careers, the responsibility today for raising families and running households still falls mainly on women. It was the same during Tudor times, with young girls of all social classes being taught how to keep household accounts, manage or perform daily household tasks, grow and use medicinal plants, and represent their husbands well. Queens sometimes stepped in to rule while the king was away at war, which is what Katherine of Aragon and Kateryn Parr did while each was married to Henry VIII. Upper class women supervising large houses were expected to know the requirements of meal preparation, food storage, spinning of yarn and weaving, brewing of ale, and making necessities such as candles and soap. They would have been expected to keep their husband’s estates running smoothly in his absence. In the merchant class, men often employed their wives and daughters, who ran the business when necessary.
Tudor Women Were Obedient In most cases the young woman in the time of Henry VIII was raised to obey her parents, her Church and her husband. In the upper social strata, young women were married to whomever would most benefit her family or monarch. Some noble women during this time, however, were educated and wielded power by advising their husbands and forming favorable alliances. During Tudor Times, women promised to obey their husbands at marriage, but Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, did not when she recently married Prince William!
Tudor Women and Marriage Women were expected to marry and have children, no matter what social class, during the days of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Marriages were usually arranged for adolescent girls in the noble class, but most lower class women married in their teens and twenties. Sometimes early marriages were consummated years after the marriage if the girl was deemed too young, or sometimes, such as in the case of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, who was married for the second time by age 12 and became mother to Henry at age 13, young girls were not so fortunate. Divorce was rarely possible. When the end of a marriage was desired, the common option was for the woman to enter a nunnery, at which time her marriage would be annulled. This was the option Henry VIII presented to Katherine of Aragon when it became clear that he would not get a male heir from her.
More to come in Part Two …
July 18th, 2011
Sandra Byrd
With Kate Eaton
The Medway River flows from the North Sea into the County of Kent in the southeast of England. There on the banks of the River Medway, Allington Castle stands on land once held by the Celts, Romans and Saxons. As early as 1086 there is mention of a manor house at Allington (Elentun) held by Uluric, thought to be the fourth son of Earl Godwin.
Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror’s half brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, was awarded the estate, but it was soon transferred to William, Earl of Warren. During his tenure as landowner, a Norman castle was built, probably a stone bailey with a moat. When that castle was ordered destroyed by King Henry II in 1174, a manor house was rebuilt that included dovecotes that remain to this day.
Over the next two hundred years, the castle was improved by successive tenants. When Allington passed by marriage to Sir Henry Cobham in 1309, the impressive Solomon’s Tower was added. From then until 1492, Allington stayed by marriage and inheritance in the hands of Penchester descendants. In 1492, however, it was awarded with gratitude by King Henry Tudor to Sir Henry Wyatt, father of Meg Wyatt. Sir Henry had suffered imprisonment and torture in Scotland under Richard III.
As Privy Councillor and executor of Henry’s will, he not only helped manage the royal family’s affairs during Henry VIII’s childhood, he also became an extremely wealthy man. This wealth enabled him to refurbish and expand Allington Castle, adding tall Tudor windows, a large porch, modern fireplaces, an improved kitchen and a courtyard through which England’s oldest Long Gallery ran. One of the towers was also torn down and in its place a Tudor dwelling was built. A magnificent, paneled Royal Room was added to house important guests. The public rooms featured high, stone walls and the private lodgings of the family were beautifully furnished with wood-panelled walls and luxurious carpets, tapestries and furniture.
The Wyatt household included two sons, Thomas and Henry, and at least two daughters, Margaret and Anne/Mary. These residents of Allington Castle were deeply enmeshed in the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The youngest sister, Meg in my books, was a favorite of Anne Boleyn’s and became one of her chief ladies-in-waiting. The two young women had grown up on neighboring estates in Kent and a strong friendship had developed. Meg traveled with Anne to Calais and later served as Mistress of the Queen’s Wardrobe andright up through her death. Her sister, Mary/Anne, is also thought to have served Anne as lady-in-waiting.
And, so, to modern times. Today, Allington Castle is owned by an American who is also Chancellor of University of Kent, Sir Robert Worcester and Lady Worcester. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live as they do in a royal castle immersed in centuries of intrigue?
Research Sources: History of Allington Castle, Kent, Sir Robert Worcester, KBE DL
