Lady Despenser's Scribery

Rogues Gallery Part One: Robert le Ewer

2011-12-19T16:31:00.000Z

After David Pilling's wonderful guest post on his new novel Folville's Law, I thought I would start a new series of posts looking at several 'rogues' in Edward II's time and just after. They were not necessarily criminal gangs on the make, but often formerly loyal household staff who decided to 'go off the rails', often in spectacular fashion! This post looks at Robert le Ewer, a former royal

Anniversary of Hugh's Death

2011-11-24T22:58:00.000Z

Today is the day when, 685 years ago, in 1326, Hugh Despenser was hideously executed in Hereford by being hung, drawn and quartered. He was not the first to die by this method - indeed, he had been responsible for similar executions himself, notably that of Llywelyn Bren. But, according to some chroniclers, it was a particularly brutal occasion, with Hugh being humiliated at every opportunity. If

Book Launch: Folville's Law by David Pilling

2011-11-09T11:00:00.000Z

Today I would like to welcome a guest blogger to Lady Despenser's Scribery. David Pilling has just written a novel, Folville's Law, set during the tumultous years of the end of Edward II's reign and just after. A bit about David: He currently works in the Library and Archive at the Tate Gallery in London. Previous jobs included stints at The Royal Opera House and The School of Oriental

St Briavels Castle: From Hunting Lodge to Hostel

2011-11-05T22:07:00.000Z

Last weekend I had the privilege of staying the night at St Briavels: a medieval castle - and a reputedly very haunted one at that! It was not only fantastic to spend the night within its ancient walls, but it was also an excellent opportunity to photograph some of the rooms that aren't open to the public due to it being a youth hostel. The castle is located in the small village of St

I'm Back!

2011-11-03T13:32:00.000Z

After a prolonged absence from Blogland (and a not very successful move to WordPress), I've decided to come back to Blogger as I'm more comfortable with the layout! And blimey, I can't believe how much Blogger has changed!!! You may notice that I have added Adsense on this blog. This decision was not taken lightly, but hey, any extra cash, even pennies, will be welcome! I will, however, review

Update /The Three Castles I Visited in Wales Pt 1

2010-05-19T17:16:00.017+01:00

First of all, apologies for my absence in blogland– both in writing my own and reading others’. I have largely been distracted by both the novel, and setting up the online gift business to be able to research much in the way of posts. So, I feel a quick update on both projects is probably in order. The writing is going well, although I do have to keep stopping to research an event more closely to

Review: Edward II (play) at Berkeley Castle, 10th April.

2010-04-12T16:52:00.007+01:00

When much of your waking life is centred around researching and writing about Edward II’s reign and, especially, his last favourite, Hugh Despenser, it becomes one of those ‘things to do’ to go and see a performance of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II (written a little before 1592). I had managed to watch some of Jarman’s film adaptation but, to be honest, it didn’t do much for me. Anyway, if a

Sir Ralph Basset ( c 1279- 1343) – a Despenser Man?

2010-03-25T14:26:00.009Z

Sir Ralph Basset, later to become 2nd Lord Basset of Drayton was born in about 1279 to Ralph Basset (1st Lord Basset) and Hawise de Grey, daughter of John de Grey of Water Eaton. His father died on 31st December 1299, leaving Ralph to inherit the numerous family manors, including that of Drayton.As a side note here, quite a few historians assume Ralph to have been fairly closely related to Hugh

John of Gaddesden, Smallpox and Edward II

2010-02-22T20:00:00.008Z

Apologies for the length of time between posts at the moment. I have been pressing on with the novel and doing extra research for the chapters (and in the process have discovered a few new things about Hugh here and there – but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait on those). With all that happening, I have been having trouble trying to find a subject for a blog post that (a) wouldn’t reveal the new

Garth Celyn

2010-01-31T17:17:00.007Z

On a hillside, just off the A55 between Caernarfon and Conway, is a large house which is joined on to a strange-looking tower. To the casual visitor it might appear to be some sort of Victorian Gothic creation, but in truth they would be quite, quite wrong. Garth Celyn, also known as Pen-Y-Bryn, is a building steeped in Welsh history. Back in the thirteenth century, it was the site of the palace

My Research Shelf

2010-01-24T17:44:00.004Z

I've had a few requests lately asking what sources I have to hand when writing my posts. Never scared of a challenge, I set to listing them all - including online resources - and was rather shocked at the length of the list! Anyway, for those who are interested, here it is:My Research Resources as of 24/01/2010:BooksA Dictionary of Latin Words and Phrases – James MorwoodA Dictionary of Medieval

Hailes Abbey Church

2010-01-14T12:45:00.013Z

On the post before last, I visited the ruins of Hailes Abbey. This is the second part of that trip - the small, but beautifully decorated church that stands to the side of the abbey. It predates the abbey itself, having been consecrated in 1175, but once the larger building was finished, it served as the Capella Ante Portas (the chapel by the gate - for the use of travellers). Inside, the

The New - and Very Shiny - Hugh Despenser Website

2010-01-06T14:42:00.003Z

First of all, I hope that everyone had a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year and that you are filled with hope for a great 2010! As you can see from the title (and will already know if you follow me on Facebook), I have just launched the new Hugh Despenser website: Hugh Despenser.com.I'm sure that Hugh would have loved to have had his own website (if they had existed back in the early 14th

Hailes Abbey

2009-12-23T10:36:00.017Z

Back in the Autumn I visited the ruins of Hailes Abbey at Winchcombe, near Cheltenham. Although only half an hour or so from where I live, I had only ever been there once before - about fifteen years ago. The once great Cistercian abbey was founded about 1245/6 by Richard, earl of Cornwall, as a thanks to God for being saved from a shipwreck. It was built quickly and consecrated in a ceremony

Novel Update

2009-12-05T13:24:00.007Z

The first draft is proceeding very well, although it doesn't seem to follow any sort of chronological order at the moment! With my previous (non historical) writing I always managed to have some kind of plot plan and follow it in a logical progression from point A (beginning) to point B (end). With Despenser, I am finding that certain scenes are throwing themselves so strongly at me that I can't

Anniversary of Hugh's Execution

2009-11-24T09:04:00.004Z

Today is the sad anniversary of Hugh Despenser's cruel death at the hands of Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer. 683 years ago, Hugh was 'tried' in Hereford, found guilty of treason and many other crimes and sentenced to death by hanging, drawing and quartering. He was dragged to the gallows by four horses, hung from a 50 foot gallows until nearly dead, taken down, castrated, eviscerated and

Novel Snippet Time: Rescuing Lady Badlesmere

2009-11-19T12:37:00.007Z

As promised, a little snippet from my work in progress (the novel, Despenser). It is still in first draft so may alter between now and when the book is finished. The actual historical event that inspired the happenings in this chapter is detailed in this post. This will also be posted on my fiction blog, Scribe's DenRescuing Lady BadlesmereHis men armed and mounted, supplemented by four men from

Hugh Despenser the Hero

2009-11-14T15:53:00.007Z

Over the years, Hugh Despenser’s name has become so associated with avariciousness, ruthlessness and ambition (and not without due cause) that he is often portrayed by writers, both within fiction and historical fact as being completely one dimensional: a copybook, archetypal villain with no redeeming features. Of course, it is hard to find definitive proof that he was also the type to help old

WEBSITE LAUNCH!!!!

2009-10-26T10:08:00.002Z

Yes, finally, at long last, it’s here!Today we (Alianore/Kathryn and I (Lady D/Jules) are pleased as punch and immensely proud to announce the official launch of the Everything Edward II website. It has everything from both of our blogs together in one place, plus a few little extras, so be sure to put it in your bookmarks!.Obviously it has room for lots of growth and new features. There are

'Medieval Day' at the Cheltenham Literary Festival

2009-10-12T19:52:00.005+01:00

It's that time of year again when some big names come to Cheltenham, just down the road from me, for a two week's long literary festival (or a mutual back-slapping and new book publicising tour as it could be seen by the less well-inclined). This year, as I am practising being a starving artist of the scribbling kind, I couldn't afford as many talks as usual, but I couldn't resist the two that

The Website, Getting Ready for the 'Big Write' and other stuff

2009-09-20T13:58:00.003+01:00

A round up on a few things...Website:The transferring of content from both my own and Alianore's blogs onto the main website is almost done (phew!). As I'm sure you can imagine - there is alot of it - over 200 pages so far! And it all has to be formatted and linked etc, etc, etc! But, I'm now a week or so away to the first live test, so the launch date is looking good for the beginning-mid

A Short Summary of Ed’s 1322 Campaign and Why He Lost

2009-09-08T14:15:00.006+01:00

I’ve now done all of the serious stuff on this Scottish Campaign of Edward’s so now I’ll try and sum it all up in a much shorter post.Basically: After the two year truce of 1319 ended in December 1321, Robert Bruce started, rather annoyingly, to get up to his old tricks again - popping over the border to do a spot of terrorising and to running a protection racket for northern towns that could

The Battle of Byland 1322

2009-09-01T12:16:00.015+01:00

Finally - I've managed to put together this post on Battle of Byland itself - it feels like it has taken forever - mainly because I had to translate a source from the original Lowland Scots language as well as draw up the battle plan! Someone (Carla) asked me how I make the maps. Well, first I take an original map image (credit to Google Maps in this case), manipulate it so that it is the right

Edward's Scottish Campaign of 1322, Pt 3: The Retreat

2009-08-17T12:53:00.001+01:00

Edward started his return to England from Edinburgh soon after 26th August. On the way, parts of his army, still foraging for food, became detached from the main force and sacked the monasteries of Holyrood and Melrose. It was at Melrose that the Scots, under the command of the very experienced and capable Black Douglas, ambushed and attacked the English. It was a skirmish rather than a battle,

Edward II’s Scottish Campaign of 1322, Pt 2: Invasion

2009-08-12T12:47:00.005+01:00