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Medieval British History

Through the Lens: Fiddleford Manor in Dorset

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It's the little things you come across when you're exploring England that stick with you the most. I came upon Fiddleford Manor House completely by chance one day and I was completely enchanted by it. It was a special day, sometime between Christmas and New Year's when we were in England for the holiday season, back in 2013. I was on an expedition around Dorset and Wiltshire … [Read more...] about Through the Lens: Fiddleford Manor in Dorset

The Monarchs: Edward II – The King Betrayed By His Wife

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Ultimately a failure as a king, Edward II spent the majority of his reign battling with the baronial lords of the time who constantly rebelled and sought to gain power over the king and control of the country. Edward II incurred large debts during his years as King and oversaw the Scots’ famous victory at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce. Criticized for his habit of taking close … [Read more...] about The Monarchs: Edward II – The King Betrayed By His Wife

The Fiver – Five British Castles Still in Private Ownership

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Britain is filled with castles, once-glorious fortresses that were the homes of kings and lords.  Since the days of yore in which they served as the center of a local community’s life, many have fallen into ruin, and others have become far too expensive to main.  As such, they’ve been given over to charities and trusts that have opened them to the public.  A relatively small … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five British Castles Still in Private Ownership

Royal Oak: Ten of the Spookiest National Trust Properties to Visit This October

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This post was sponsored by the Royal Oak Foundation, the American affiliate of the National Trust. Anglotopia Readers can get a discount on joining – details at the bottom of the post!  In dark moors and high cliffs, many a spooky old home and ancient castle sits.  Even those that don’t appear frightening can sometimes be haunted by the spirits of those who once lived there, … [Read more...] about Royal Oak: Ten of the Spookiest National Trust Properties to Visit This October

British History Mysteries – Where are the Princes in the Tower?

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One of Britain’s greatest unsolved mysteries is that of the deaths of King Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York.  Richard, Duke of Gloucester (and future King Richard III) housed his young wards in the Tower of London for their protection prior to Edward’s coronation.  However, before that could happen, Edward was declared illegitimate and Richard was crowned in his … [Read more...] about British History Mysteries – Where are the Princes in the Tower?

An American Student Abroad: A Visit to Whitby – A Gothic Exploration

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Whitby has been on my 'bucket list' since I first read Dracula with my English teacher, Mr Stark, when I was twelve years old.  The descriptions in Bram Stoker's masterful novel of the ruined abbey and the churchyard that overlooks the sea at Whitby have stuck with me, and still, resonate with me every time I read the novel.  Yet, despite having visited England several times, … [Read more...] about An American Student Abroad: A Visit to Whitby – A Gothic Exploration

Brit Movies: The King Trailer Released – Timothée Chalamet Plays Henry in Shakespeare Adaptations for Netflix

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Not content with just Scottish Kings, Netflix has also produced a lush period drama adapted from several of Shakespeare's plays. Netflix, which will be releasing the film directly to its service, released a trailer today. Inspired by elements of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Henry V, The King is about a young, disgraced prince, named Hal inherits the crown and must learn what it … [Read more...] about Brit Movies: The King Trailer Released – Timothée Chalamet Plays Henry in Shakespeare Adaptations for Netflix

Through the Lens: Brougham Castle in the Lake District

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I generally have one rule when traveling in Britain, if there is a ruin near me, I will stop at the ruin. I love ruins. And Britain is full of them. Brougham Castle (pronounced 'Broom') is one of the finest Castle ruins I've ever been to. Situated in the heart of Cumbria, next to a river, Brougham Castle is a quintessential Medieval castle ruin. The site is currently owned and … [Read more...] about Through the Lens: Brougham Castle in the Lake District

British History Mysteries – Did Henry II Order Thomas Beckett’s Death?

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Until King Henry VIII officially broke with the Catholic Church to start the Anglican Church, there had long been a struggle between the Crown and the Church over whose authority was superior.  While the two institutions had often been able to live with one another, the greatest conflict between the two prior to the Tudor era was the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Beckett.  On … [Read more...] about British History Mysteries – Did Henry II Order Thomas Beckett’s Death?

Ten Interesting Facts about the Battle of Bosworth Field

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At Bosworth Field, the War of the Roses came to a final and bloody end.  King Richard III, representing the Yorks, met with Henry Tudor, representing the Lancasters, in a battle that ended thirty-two years of conflict that split England down the middle.  It also gave birth to one of the monarchy’s most-influential houses as the Tudors would oversee England own’s participation … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about the Battle of Bosworth Field

Ten Interesting Facts About the Battle of Hastings

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  There’s no question that the Battle of Hastings was the most important conflict in British history.  Fought between the Anglo-Saxons (led by Harold of Wessex) and the Normans (headed by William of Normandy), the Norman victory led to William becoming king and instituting feudalism, fundamentally altering British society and the country’s destiny.  As fundamental as … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts About the Battle of Hastings

10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire

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Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire is one of the most incredible abbey ruins I've been to in Britain, and I've been to many. The massive cellarium is worth visiting Fountains Abbey alone - it's a massive space that just goes on and on. Despite it being a ruin, there is still much on site that remains. We highly recommend a visit. Here are 10 interesting facts we gathered from our … [Read more...] about 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire

The Fiver – Five Royal Nicknames and How They Were Earned

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While we don’t tend to grant nicknames to kings and queens today, in ages past, they helped to make monarchs into the stuff of legend.  Whether the name was earned by great deeds or other circumstance, it encompasses the totality of his or her legacy.  There have been many great nicknames throughout the years, and their stories are as fascinating as the men and women to which … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five Royal Nicknames and How They Were Earned

The Monarchs: Edward III – The Fifty-Year King

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #10 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2018. Support great long-form writing about British History, Culture, and travel by subscribing to the Anglotopia Magazine. Every subscription helps keep Anglotopia running and provides us to the opportunity to produce articles like this. You can subscribe here. Edward III was the … [Read more...] about The Monarchs: Edward III – The Fifty-Year King

The Fiver – Five of Britain’s Oldest Businesses

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Transacting business is something that goes back centuries, if not millennia, to the first time humans began to trade with one other.  In Britain, the oldest businesses stretch back to before the Norman Conquest and represent some of the island’s oldest professions.  While some are still owned by the original families that formed them, others have made the transition to … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of Britain’s Oldest Businesses

More than Taunting: A Brief History of Anglo-French Relations

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The history between the United Kingdom and France is one that has been fraught with conflict until the late 19th Century.  If the term “frenemies” could be applied to countries, it would perhaps be the most accurate description of the relationship the two nations enjoy with one another.  It could be said that it finally took threats to both countries to put the conflicts of the … [Read more...] about More than Taunting: A Brief History of Anglo-French Relations

Through the Lens: A Proper Moat – A Visit to Ightham Mote

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I visited Ightham Mote on a beautiful summer's day. And that's the last time I'm going to type the name of this place because it's impossible to get right every time. I was attracted to the place because it was a proper moated manor house - and it was a National Trust property, so there would be tea and cake. I'm a sucker for tea and cake at a National Trust property. When I … [Read more...] about Through the Lens: A Proper Moat – A Visit to Ightham Mote

Through the Lens: Old and New Wardour Castle in Wiltshire

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Whenever we stay in Dorset, our 'local' castle is Wardour Castle, which is just over the county border in Wiltshire. It's a beautiful old castle ruin - as romantic as they get. If it looks familiar to you - it's because it was in the Kevin Costner Robin Hood in the '90s. I've had the pleasure of visiting the place twice - first when we traveled to Britain for Christmas in 2013 … [Read more...] about Through the Lens: Old and New Wardour Castle in Wiltshire

A Guide to the Four Patron Saints of Great Britain and Ireland

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Every country has its own unique symbols.  They can be places, things, and even people that represent the country.  Patron saints are in many ways an extension of this symbolism, each an important figure not only for Christianity but specifically for the country which he patronizes, his history and lore tied to the land and its culture.  The countries of the British Isles each … [Read more...] about A Guide to the Four Patron Saints of Great Britain and Ireland

British Christmas: A History of How the Royal Family Has Celebrated Christmas Through the Ages

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Every year we tune in to watch Queen Elizabeth II send her Christmas message out to the world.  Oftentimes, she has discussed what the Royal Family does for the holidays.  While a retreat to Sandringham is an annual event, other traditions for the Windsors include sharing Christmas gifts at tea on Christmas Eve, supper, a church service, and the giving of Christmas puddings to … [Read more...] about British Christmas: A History of How the Royal Family Has Celebrated Christmas Through the Ages

Brit History: Britain’s History with the Crusades

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The Crusades were a series of religious wars, sanctioned by the Catholic Church, to take control of the Holy Land of Jerusalem (modern-day Israel) from the ruling Muslim Caliphate during the Middle Ages.  With the First Crusade beginning in 1095, the call went out from the Vatican for Christian nations to send soldiers to fight.  Britain’s contribution to the Crusades varied … [Read more...] about Brit History: Britain’s History with the Crusades

Brit Movies: Trailer Released for Outlaw King Starring Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce

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Despite Chris Pine's slightly dodgy Scottish accent, this looks really, really good. Netflix is releasing this film - but unlike previous films they've released exclusively to its streaming service, they're also doing a limited cinematic release. This is a good call because judging by the battle scenes, this is something you'll want to see on the big screen. The untold, true … [Read more...] about Brit Movies: Trailer Released for Outlaw King Starring Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce

Great Events in British History: The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381

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“Now the time is come… in which ye may cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty”. So spoke John Ball, the English radical preacher, and leader of the so-named Peasants’ Revolt, in a rousing sermon at Blackheath on the 12th of June 1391. Ball spoke passionately to the crowd that had assembled on the heath, urging them to cast off the yoke of servitude and to claim … [Read more...] about Great Events in British History: The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381