The news cycle is fast, and it’s hard to keep up with our favorite interests and topics! That’s why once a week I make up this post with the top stories that have caught my attention.
Listen to:
the music of Robert Johnson, a mysterious Scottish composer who found favor at the court of Henry VIII
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16127902.Music_of_the_mysterious_heretic_priest_Robert_Johnson_to_be_heard_at_last/
here’s some of his lute music on Spotify
Online CoursesÂ
FutureLearn is offering a course on England in the Time of Richard III that might interest you, and it’s available to join now for free:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/england-of-richard-third#section-dates
Archaeology
Does Pembroke Castle still hide the actual house where Henry VII was born?
Studies will continue to see whether a manor house still exists where Lady Margaret Beaufort gave birth to Henry.
http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/16085434.Does_Pembroke_Castle_still_hide_the_actual_house_where_King_Henry_VII_was_born_/
A stone carving in Meath might be the head of Catherine of Valois:
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/is-stone-carving-discovered-in-meath-the-face-of-catherine-de-valois-1.3442037
Days Out
Visit Blackmore – the site of a legendary love nest for Henry and Bessie Blount.
http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/heritage/heritage-village-of-blackmore-almost-gave-us-king-henry-ix-1-5456681
Eltham Palace – a less visited castle just outside of London
https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/attractions/secret-london-why-you-should-visit-eltham-palace-this-weekend-a3791466.html
Originally built as a palace that was gifted to Edward II in 1305 by the then Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek, the sturdy fortress was used as one of the official residences of the Monarch for over 200 years. A favourite of King Henry IV, the palace is famous for hosting the only Byzantine Emperor to ever visit our shores, Manuel II Palaiologos, an event so big King Henry held a joust in his honour.
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Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast,  the original Tudor history podcast, started in 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. In 2019 she created Tudorcon, which is now a yearly event, in addition to writing books, and running TudorFair.com - a whimsical Tudor Merch shop. She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 20 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history.