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Spooky Tudors - Stories of Hauntings, Sightings, and Tudor Spookiness

10/31/2014

Guess what today is, Tudor Enthusiasts! That's right… it's Halloween - a day of dressing up, eating candy, and telling scary stories. We can't do all three of those things together, but I'm happy to contribute to the latter. I'd like to share with you a few interesting Tudor ghost stories, as many of you on the Facebook page indicated you were interested!
I've previously written about Tudor ghosts in my 2011 Halloween post, but since writing it I've learned more about some spooky sightings and I thought that was worth its own post. Do check that one out as well - you might enjoy those stories, too!
Here are a few of my favorite Tudor hauntings and spooky sites - some of which you may have heard of, as well as some that you (hopefully) have not… I hope you enjoy!

Tudor House Hotel

Tudor House Hotel: Our first location takes us to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire and a lovely little place called Tudor House Hotel. Dating back to 1540, it's no wonder that these walls house some frequently-reported spirits! One of them is known as the "grey lady" - also seen in a white dress. Thought to be a maid mistreated by her mistress, she reportedly suffered from depression and threw herself out of an upper-level window, committing suicide. She can be seen wandering the corridors and disappearing when she reaches a doorway. Other ghosts include a black labrador at the top of the main staircase, and a drummer boy who has been reported waking guests up in the middle of the night as he bangs on his kettle drum.

Sudeley Castle: Many will know that Henry VIII's sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr, died at Sudeley Castle, most likely of childbed fever. According to castle legend, her spirit has never left! Visitors have reported seeing Catherine dressed in a flowing green Tudor gown, staring out of windows and wandering through the beautiful gardens.

Rycote Chapel: This chapel in Oxfordshire was built in the 15th century and is home to at least three ghosts. We have another "grey lady" who has been spotted both in and out of the chapel. In addition, there is a monk dressed in brown robes who can be seen underneath an oak tree within the grounds. And lastly, a 17th century milk maid reportedly roams the area around the chapel.

Queen's Staircase, Hampton Court Palace: Here's an interesting story from a lady in 2009 who visited Hampton Court and experienced quite a strange encounter at the Queen's Staircase. She reports that when she walked towards the staircase, she heard someone yell "Make way for the King!" though no one was around. She took a photo of the staircase, and later discovered the faint image of a ghostly Tudor woman on the stairs. It's certainly hard to tell who she caught in the image, but given the many haunted stories about Hampton Court, I'm not at all surprised!

Queen's Staircase Ghost

Thornbury Castle: Five hundred years of history within its stone walls certainly calls for a few ghostly inhabitants, as Thornbury Castle can boast. This fortress has seen the ghost of a young Princess Mary Tudor and her greyhounds, which she kept as pets in her childhood. It is also home to its own "grey lady" who reportedly walks along the battlements. But the most famous ghostly resident is Jasper Tudor, uncle to Henry VII. Apparently in his day, the first floor, where the offices are now kept, was for gentlemen only. Jasper now seems to be unhappy by females inhabiting that space, and he makes his presence known - turning on the photocopier, knocking things off of shelves, etc. - yet he seemed perfectly quiet and content when there was just one man working in the office.

Stanley Palace: Located in Chester, this Tudor building was recently a hot topic for paranormal investigators. Earlier this year during a nighttime investigation, experts believe they caught the apparition of a ghost on camera. In their video, two investigators are sitting at the foot of a grand staircase, while a ghostly figure appears on the stairs. The investigators describe the figure as "a solid person, with a visible nose, mouth, and hair." The ghost first looks at the camera, then up the stairs, before disappearing. According to the curator of Stanley Palace, there was a staircase with a door beneath it, where a man had died. Could this be the same man? Watch the video footage below and decide for yourself if it is a ghost!

Kimbolton Castle: Katherine of Aragon's ghost has been seen several times at the site of her death, the beautiful Kimbolton Castle. On one floor, Katherine can be seen walking - her legs and lower body projecting from the ceiling -, while on another her head and shoulders glide along the floor. This is certainly an indication that floor levels have shifted through the years, and Katherine's ghost is walking the same pathways she knew while she was alive. I can only imagine it's a humorous sight!

Donington le Heath Manor House: This is a particularly fascinating story to me, and a very recent one! Just last year, amateur ghost hunters at this medieval manor house in Leicestershire, believe they made contact with Richard III's ghost through an audio recording. This location, said to be where the king spent his final night before riding off to the Battle of Bosworth, is where the investigators stood - next to the bed, asking "What is your name?" Several seconds later, a male voice mumbles a word they've interpreted as "Richard." The investigators then thank him for sharing his name with them. Although they're not officially claiming it is Richard III, it's a fun thought, isn't it? Check out the video with the recording below...

So what do YOU think, Tudor Enthusiasts? Do you believe any of these Tudor locations are real haunts? Do you think the voice in the video is actually Richard III communicating with the living world?
I've shared with you in this post some of the less famous Tudor ghost stories. I haven't included the famed ghosts of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, or Elizabeth I, and I haven't talked about the Tower of London. Please check out my post from 2011 for those stories, while appreciating these lesser-known spirits as well!
Lastly, if you have any stories of your own that you'd like to share, please do - both here in the comments and on the Facebook page!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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King Henry VII is Crowned at Westminster

10/30/2014

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Henry Tudor, "The White Queen"

This day in 1485 was an exciting one if you were a Lancastrian supporter! The brutal Wars of the Roses had officially come to a close in August with the Battle of Bosworth and the unexpected victory of Lancaster over York - namely Henry Tudor over King Richard III. Because of Lord Thomas Stanley's last minute decision to join his step-son Tudor, Richard and his army were defeated and the House of Lancaster stood triumphant, gleefully crowning their new king right there on the battlefield.
But all would not be official until this day - when Henry Tudor would officially become King Henry VII and a new era of the English monarchy would formally begin. We can look at this day as the first real day of the Tudor dynasty. The old king is dead; God save King Henry! The Plantagenets are gone and the Tudors have risen to power!
Henry, who had spent the majority of his life in Wales under the guardianship of his uncle Jasper Tudor, needed to prove himself to his new subjects at this coronation. He made sure no expense was spared - he would dazzle the spectators and foreigners, come to witness this momentous event. This was the day Henry had dreamt of, and that his mother Lady Margaret Beaufort had plotted and encouraged for. The day had to be impressive!
The result did not disappoint. The coronation events began on 27 October when Henry dined at Lambeth Palace with the Archbishop of Canterbury - the man who had crowned King Richard III and King Edward IV before him. They processed to the Tower of London, the traditional overnight stay for soon-to-be-crowned monarchs. The following day was spent ennobling Henry's councillors and favorites - and of course we are not at all surprised to see that Jasper Tudor was named Duke of Bedford, and the Yorkist-turned-Lancastrian Thomas Stanley became Earl of Derby. Henry also fondly referred to Stanley as his "right dearly beloved father" …a fitting show of affection, considering Stanley played such a significant role in helping Henry gain the crown. In addition to these two notable titles, Knights of the Bath were created and another earldom was gifted to Edward Courtenay for his valuable support.

Rouge Dragon Pursuivant

On the 29th of October, Henry and his noblemen processed from the Tower of London to Westminster, and this was a grand affair. The were met on the roads by enthusiastic subjects waving banners and taking part in pageants to welcome their new king and dynasty to the throne. It can be assumed that for many English subjects, with Henry Tudor came the promise of a new England - one that was peaceful and prosperous, so unlike the decades prior. One can only guess that Henry was feeling the enthusiasm and optimism of his new people as he sailed through the streets in his royal canopy, bedecked in flowing purple velvet robes edged in ermine. Ahead of him marched the heralds and sergeants, the Esquire of the King's Body, the King's Secretary, almoner, the mayer, and the Garter King of Arms. His earls also walked ahead of him, and he was flanked by the Dukes of Suffolk and Bedford. Interestingly, Henry also used the 29th to pay homage to his own Welsh descent. He created a new junior officer of arms title - the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant - named after the red dragon of Wales.
Finally, we arrive at the festivities of this day - the 30th of October. This was the big day, led up to by impressive pageants, processions and the gifting of new titles. Archbishop Thomas Bourchier led the ceremony at Westminster Abbey while Thomas Kempe celebrated the Mass. Thomas Stanley, now the Earl of Derby, was granted the honor of carrying the sword of state, while John de Vere carried the king's impressive train. It should come as no surprise that the ultimate honor of bearing Henry's crown was awarded to Jasper Tudor, the faithful uncle who had protected and fought for Henry throughout his life. This was, no doubt, the proudest moment for him - to see his work come to fruition. Likewise, I can't think of anyone Henry would have preferred for the honor.
The Archbishop announced to the audience, "I here present Henry, true and rightful, and undoubted interior of the laws of God and man, to the crown and royal dignity of England, with all things thereunto annexed and appertaining, elect, chosen, and required by all three estates of the same land, to take upon him the said crown and royal dignity." He then addressed Henry, asking him if he would keep to the laws of the realm as bestowed by the previous rightful and devout kings, as well as the liberties and customs as granted by his noble predecessor and glorious king Saint Edward. To this, Henry replied, "I grant and promise."

The Tudor Rose

Anointed, crowned, and consecrated, Henry Tudor was now formally King Henry VII of England and France, Prince of Wales, and Lord of Ireland. The Tudor Dynasty had emerged from the dark, dreary pits of unlikelihood and gone were the bloody days of civil war. With him, Henry promised to bring peace - a formal alliance between the houses of York and Lancaster in the form of a marriage. He would marry the daughter of King Edward IV, the York Princess Elizabeth. Most notably and beautifully of all, the Tudor Dynasty would create its own symbol to identify with both the York and Lancaster houses - the Tudor Rose, a combination of the red and white feuding roses.
With all of this excitement, Henry surely earned his sumptuous coronation banquet at the Tower of London, where he processed immediately following the solemn Mass. He was met with cheers of applause and awe - delighted subjects who were ecstatic to witness their new radiant ruler. At the banquet, the Red Dragon of Wales was a consistent theme - another sign that, although Henry was now the formal ruler of England, he would not forget or deny his Welsh roots. Festivities ensued and a jousting tournament was held, all to the sheer excitement and pleasure of those in attendance.
And through it all, the radiant new King Henry Tudor, who had hidden, plotted, and fought valiantly for his crown, sat triumphant and surrounded by those who were loyal to him. No one at that moment could deny that he had won his throne fairly, and that he was, without a shred of doubt or protest, the rightful King Henry VII of England.

God Save the King! God Save the King! Long Live King Henry!

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"The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII" by Amy Licence - Interview & Giveaway

10/25/2014

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I am thrilled to be hosting today's stop on Amy Licence's blog tour for her newest nonfiction book, The Six Wives & Many Mistresses of Henry VIII. I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy about her book and work in the field of Late Medieval/Early Modern History research and writing, and I am also pleased to give you the chance to win a copy of the book!

We know these women already, as they are the subject of so many Tudor-related conversations. Henry VIII has an enduring reputation as a man obsessed with the pursuit of a male heir, as well as the disposal of women who no longer provided for his interests. We have our favorites and our least favorites of them, and it seems we just can't get enough of them! But have we heard all of their stories as they would tell them themselves? Amy's book claims on the back cover to tell the stories from the viewpoints of the women… an intriguing thought! What Tudor Enthusiast wouldn't want to read this book?

Enjoy the interview and leave a comment below this page explaining why this book looks interesting. Include your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner!

1. What inspired you to become a late Medieval and early Tudor historian?

I was lucky to grow up within easy reach of lots of medieval and Tudor sites and my parents were keen to encourage my interest by taking me to visit museums, castles and other such places. I discovered the novels of Jean Plaidy and that inspired me to read non-fiction to find out what had really happened to these people; by the time I was fourteen, I’d read through the history shelf in my local library.

2. You seem to focus very much on women in your writing. What is it about women from this time period that makes them such a fascinating topic for you?

I think it is the parallels between their lives and ours today; there are so many differences but the points of similarity are strong enough to allow us to imagine what life would have been like for us, had we lived then. I’m particularly drawn to the female experiences of birth, marriage and sex, as rites of passage that connect women through the ages, as well as the representation of women in a male dominated culture. I love the ways they managed to carve out little pockets of femininity in a literal sense, by occupying certain indoor and outdoor spaces, and the ways they shaped their identity through difference. The women of the Tudor era were on the cusp of the new modern age; their lives were changing in dramatic and unpredictable ways and that means that many of them were tested, by men, the law, religion, or all three. It’s fascinating to see the clash of medieval values against the new ways of living, and how women resolved these issues.

The Six Wives

3. In your opinion, was it better to be Henry's wife or mistress?

It all depends on what your ultimate goal was. There’s no doubt that it was safer to be his mistress, as he had no reason to inflict the kinds of punishment on his lovers that he did with the wives who he perceived had transgressed. If you were in it for the money, the status, or for the desire to bear him a future heir, then to become his queen was the logical step, presuming you were in the right place at the right time. The position brought with it a whole swathe of other responsibilities though, and greater risk if a woman put a foot wrong. It would be a more prestigious, but far more dangerous game to play. For a young woman at his court, her ultimate aim would be to marry as well as possible and secure her family’s future, so I suspect they would consider it better to become Henry’s wife while hindsight might lead us to the opposite conclusion.

4. If you had to name the most interesting historical woman you've researched, who would it be and why?

That’s a tricky one. What constitutes interest; what makes someone interesting? I suppose it is subjective, I might name Cecily Neville as being intriguing, a woman whose life contains much unanswered mystery and whose closeness to other key figures of the era fascinates me. As the mother of the trio Edward IV, George Duke of Clarence and Richard III, her influence on them must have been significant and I would love to know more about it. However, I suppose the woman who keeps my interest the longest would have to be Anne Boleyn; the triangle of her, Henry and Catherine of Aragon still enthrals me the way it did when I was first reading about it almost thirty years ago. I suppose that is where my real interest lies in terms of researching Henry’s wives; the dynamic by which he transferred his affection from Catherine to Anne, and made her his Queen, which will always raise questions because it was so dramatic and had such a huge impact on the course of English history.

5. Was Henry VIII truly the womanizer and 'playboy' that many movies and books have made him out to be?

No, I think that takes it a bit far and over sensationalises his character, but there have been a good many movies and novels that are more entertaining for a little exaggeration. When it comes to the facts, he was probably a man of his times, in terms of his sexual appetites. He also enjoyed the company of women too, as from an early age he was brought up with his sisters at Eltham, while his elder brother Arthur was sent away to Ludlow. I suspect he was more of a “ladies’ man” than a “playboy,” falling sincerely in love several times, whilst maintaining the contemporary convention of pursuing other women for physical pleasure. Also, I think that we mustn’t overlook the position of power he was in; especially in his youth, he knew that he could have pretty much any woman he wanted. It must have been difficult for him to resist playing out his favourite chivalric fantasies in the knowledge that he held all the cards.

Amy Licence

6. Can you give us one interesting fact from your newest book, The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII?

One thing I found really interesting is indirectly connected to Henry’s women. As a young man he surrounded himself by a group of dashing young rakes called the King’s minions: Buckingham, Exeter, Compton, Carew, Hastings and others. If anyone was well placed to know about his early love affairs, it was these intimate friends but by the late 1530s, most of them were dead, many having been executed by Henry. When I was exploring the idea of Henry’s privacy and the survival of rumours about his amours, it struck me that the minions had been effectively silenced, and I wondered what secrets they took to the grave.

7. Why do you think so many young readers and Tudor Enthusiasts are so intrigued by this time period?

I’ve spoken to a lot of people who say they feel a natural sympathy for the Tudor era, that the Henrician court feels somehow familiar, or compelling for them. I’m not arguing for past life experiences, but I do feel the Tudor court is entrenched in our culture to the extent that we absorb its stories and myths from an early age. There’s something about it that resonates with us and I wonder if it’s down to the survival of so much material from this time, so we know lots about it, but there’s also the endless fascination we have with stories of romance and passion. We read fairy stories as children, about knights and princesses, in castles and towers, then graduate to reading about the intrigues of this historical era, it’s a turbulent and exciting time that we can enjoy at one remove. The story of Henry’s wives has everything; love, drama, intrigue, betrayal; it’s just a cracking story.

8. I see you're writing a new biography on Anne Boleyn! How are you approaching Anne's story compared to the ways other biographers have written about her?

Anne’s story can be told in so many ways but what really fascinates me is the nature of her relationship with Henry and how the power was distributed. I was able to explore this in The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII, and it really got me thinking about who took the initiative in the relationship and how much of a choice Anne really had. I want to explore those questions further and look at her character and education within the context of gender conventions of the time, and how her rise broke those rules and ultimately made her downfall possible. I don’t believe she was guilty, nor that Cromwell was pulling Henry’s strings: I think she died because Henry required her to, and I intend to trace their intimate relationship to see how it came to that point. I think there’s a real thirst out there for a long biography that follows Anne’s life in its entirety and takes a contextual but realistic approach to the sexual politics of their long years of their courtship.

9. Lastly, if you had been at the court of King Henry VIII, would you have been eager for his attention or attempting to keep your distance from him?

If I had been at Henry’s court I don’t suppose I would have been any different from the other women who lived close to him. There was a fine line to be walked between pleasing the King and advancing socially, and trying to attract his attention romantically but I guess it would have depended on him too; if he decided he wanted a woman, it would have been hard for her to refuse. If I was transported back now, blessed with hindsight, I might have made sure I was hidden away in some nunnery, plying my quill on an illuminated manuscript. Hopefully by the time of the Reformation, I’d be too old and wrinkly to catch his eye.

Thank you to Amy Licence and Amberley Publishing Company for the opportunity to host this interview and giveaway!

Want to win a copy of The Six Wives & Many Mistresses of Henry VIII?
Leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS below.
I will contact the winner on Saturday, November 1st!

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Windsor Castle - A British History Lover's Wonderland

10/12/2014

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Those of you who follow my Tudor Enthusiast Facebook page may know that I visited Windsor Castle just over a week ago, so firstly I'd like to apologize for the lateness of this post. I've spent the last week settling into life as a Graduate Student at Oxford and as you can imagine there are quite a few things to do! As of now, I'm happily settled and feeling perfectly at home here in my adorable little flat with my lovely flatmates. My work has begun and I'm taking time right now over breakfast to procrastinate on my class readings and instead share this wonderful review of Windsor with you.
So, where to start? The title of this post says it all… Windsor Castle is a British History Lover's Wonderland. You can't go wrong with the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, can you? Well, even I, who had high expectations of the visit, was incredibly impressed by the grandeur and statement of the castle and its beautiful grounds.

Perfect weather for a trip to Windsor… it was pouring down rain when my mom and I took the train from Oxford to Windsor, and as soon as we stepped through the shopping center at Windsor & Eton Central, I was blown away by the castle itself. Standing no more than fifty feet away from me were the huge, sprawling stone walls, battlements, and towers. The castle was significantly larger than I realized, and I could see the grey stones winding their way through the distance. I absolutely could not wait to get inside.
I was happy to receive an audio guide from the main ticketing center, with a very warm welcome recording from Prince Charles. As my mom and I walked up to the main entrance of the castle, I think we were both in awe. Our audio guides told us about the arrow loops in the walls, used by defenders of the castle, and explained the many interesting sights we would be visiting. I was especially excited to view the Royal Apartments from across the courtyard, where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II still spends many of her weekends.
Now, before I get carried away, let's take a look at some of the history of the castle… Windsor is the product of about one thousand years of development - beginning with William the Conqueror, who founded and established the outline for the castle, and including Edward III, who rebuilt it in the Gothic style architecture, Charles II who refurbished the existing style into the fashionable Baroque, and George IV, who restored the romantic ideals of castle architecture and sumptuously furnished many rooms in the rich, impressive 'modern' style within those ancient walls. I think this is one of the things I liked most about Windsor - every room tells a different story and allows you to view the personal tastes of different monarchs. And those tastes span hundreds of years! While you may prefer Gothic to Baroque, or ancient to modern, you get a taste of everything at Windsor, and that is so special in a building so old.

For our intents and purposes, of course, the Tudor involvement at Windsor is the most fascinating, right? Let's move onto Henry VIII then, who left several notable additions on Windsor Castle. At the time of his death in 1547, Henry owned 60 houses and palaces, and used Windsor quite frequently. One of his most noticeable additions is the 'King Henry VIII Gate' at the bottom of the Lower Ward, where visitors exit the castle grounds. He also built a terrace along the Upper Ward in 1533-1534, which he used to shoot targets from and to watch the hunt below in the park. Of course, Henry is also buried at Windsor Castle, in the gorgeous St. George's Chapel. I suppose we can say (if for no other reason) that this is a great reason for any Tudor Enthusiast to visit Windsor Castle. I'll get to his burial spot a little later on in this post…
In 1549, King Edward VI complained of Windsor Castle: "Methinks I am in a prison; here be no galleries, nor no gardens to walk in." Clearly, he was not a fan of the castle as his father was, but his life and reign were both too short to have any impact on the design. His half-sister Queen Mary I, however, was able to incorporate her coat of arms - together with her Spanish husband King Philip II's - on the belfry tower (known now as the Mary Tudor Tower). By the time Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne, Windsor was in need of repair, and in the 1570s a campaign of work was undertaken. Henry VIII's terrace walk was described as "in verie great ruyn" and the western end of St. George's Hall was "very ould ruinous and far oute of order redie to fale downe." Thankfully, all was renewed, remodeled, and refitted.

Not to say I didn't care for the other parts of the castle (because I really did!), but for my Tudor blog post I should stick to the Tudor sites. If you do happen to visit Windsor, I encourage you to check out ALL the castle offers - the State Apartments, where you can see the work of individual monarchs and their personal tastes, as well as where current state diplomats and royal guests come to dine with the Queen. Another great exhibit is Queen Mary's Dolls' House, which was built for her in 1924 and serves as a beautiful miniature replica of an aristocratic London house - complete with running water, electricity, and objects made by designers, jewelers, and artists! There was a temporary exhibit just outside the State Apartments as well, which housed many examples of primary written documents from past monarchs - including an accounts book handwritten by Princess Elizabeth Tudor. To see her exquisite signature up close was surreal.
But the main focal point for me in my visit to Windsor was St. George's Chapel, seen on the left. This impressive church is where several notable historical figures (including our very own Henry VIII) are buried, and to stand so close to their graves is an awe-inspiring experience. Those who have already seen pictures of Henry's gravesite know that it is nothing special… nothing like the grand sarcophagus he had planned to be erected in his honor in the Henry VII chapel at Westminster. In fact, those plans fell through and were never completed, so he now lies underneath a subtle black marble slab, sharing tomb space with his beloved wife Jane Seymour, the beheaded King Charles I, and one of Queen Anne's infant children. This marble slab, found in the quire of the chapel, would be easy to miss, but it was the very reason I wanted so much to visit Windsor. I couldn't allow myself to step over it as so many other visitors did while walking through the chapel… to do so seemed too irreverent for a king who - for all of his wrongdoing - is still such an important, influential, and special part of Britain's history. Instead, I sat a moment and looked at it, thinking what an ironic twist of fate it is that his grave marker is no more regal than Anne Boleyn's in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London.
But this spot in the chapel is not the only exciting Tudor area. Above the quire there is a wooden oriel window that was built for Queen Katherine of Aragon, so that she could view services taking place below. (If you look at the picture to the left of the chapel, the window is situated at the far end above the alter and on the left side). How interesting that Katherine's window is situated so near to where her royal husband now rests.
Along the quire there are stalls for the Knights of the Order of the Garter, and of course Henry VIII's stall plate can be spotted towards the back. A very kind guide let me through the roped off area so I could have a closer look. The stall plate is from when Henry was still a young boy, and his name reads "The Duke of York." A stained glass portrait of King Henry VIII can be seen in the South Quire Aisle, and his coat of arms hangs in the ceiling above the organ loft, as well as the intertwined initials "HK" for Henry and Katherine. There is Tudor history ALL over this chapel!

I can't talk about St. George's Chapel without mentioning King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Yes, I know they are Plantagenets, but as I have recently become very interested in that time period as well, I was incredibly excited to stumble upon their shared tomb just to the left of the quire. Although their marble marker is taller and slightly more eye-catching than Henry's, it is still relatively subtle, thanks to damage done during the English Civil War. In any case, if you're at all interested in the Plantagenets and you pay a visit to this chapel, don't miss their tomb!
I could probably go on and on about how wonderful Windsor Castle was, but this post is already quite long enough. I hope I've given some good insight as to why this location is such a treat for any Tudor Enthusiast, and if you haven't already visited in the past, I hope you'll consider it for the future. While much of the castle itself has been modernized through the centuries (and perhaps little of the Tudor footprint still stands within the main castle walls), have no doubt that the Tudors did leave their mark all over this place, and the stones of the castle themselves tell a most interesting history of the many monarchs who have called Windsor home.
All in all, another amazing trip for the Tudor Enthusiast. I'm so happy to share my experience with you and I'm already looking forward to wherever my Tudor travels lead me next. Now I suppose I should return to my assigned reading about the Elizabethan Aristocracy… but I will leave you to reading and daydreaming about this British History Lover's Wonderland, the incredible Windsor Castle.

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Spooky Tudors - Stories of Hauntings, Sightings, and Tudor Spookiness

King Henry VII is Crowned at Westminster

"The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII" by Amy Licence - Interview & Giveaway

Windsor Castle - A British History Lover's Wonderland

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