Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

On 6th March 1547, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton and former Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, suffered a dramatic fall from power, losing the Great Seal of his Lord Chancellorship. But was this really about his overreach, or was it part of a larger power struggle?   Wriothesley had been one of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. He played a key role in major Tudor events, including Cath...

Imagine a world without the × symbol for multiplication, sin and cos in trigonometry, or even the slide rule—a tool that shaped centuries of science and engineering. Meet William Oughtred, the Tudor-era mathematician, clergyman, and inventor who changed the way we do maths forever!   But Oughtred’s story isn’t just about numbers—his life was full of intellectual rivalries, academic feuds, and grou...

On this day in Tudor history, 4th March 1590, Christopher Bales met a brutal and unjust end on the streets of London. His crime? Simply being a Catholic priest. Under Elizabeth I’s strict anti-Catholic laws, his faith was seen as treason—and his punishment was death. But who was Christopher Bales? And why was England so determined to silence men like him? In this gripping tale of faith, persecutio...

Margaret Tudor’s Third Marriage. On this day in Tudor history, 3rd March 1528, Margaret Tudor—sister of Henry VIII and widow of James IV of Scotland—tied the knot for the third time. But was this her chance for happiness… or just history repeating itself?    Margaret had already endured one tragic loss and one disastrous marriage. She fought for freedom from her unfaithful second husband (despite...

If you could travel back in time and ask one of Henry VIII’s wives a single question, what would it be? This week’s Sunday Quick Q&A tackles a fascinating “what if” scenario, and I just couldn’t resist picking questions for ALL six wives… and maybe even Henry himself (with a little truth serum!).   Which wife would you choose, and what would you ask?   #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #Six...

Did Elizabeth I’s coronation date come from the stars?  On 15th January 1559, she was crowned Queen of England—but this wasn’t just a political decision. The famed astrologer John Dee carefully selected the date based on celestial alignments, believing it would shape her reign.  But why did astrology hold such importance in Tudor times?  Listen to find out!   Read more: Elizabeth I’s Coronation Ch...

On this day, 28th February 1551, Martin Bucer—a theologian and reformer whose influence stretched across Europe—died in Cambridge. But his story didn’t end there…   Six years later, under Queen Mary I, his body was exhumed, put on trial, and burned as a heretic. Why? What made him so dangerous that even his bones had to be destroyed?   Join me as we uncover the extraordinary life of Martin Bucer,...

The Women Who Risked It All. They defied the law. They risked everything. And they paid with their lives.   On 27th February 1601, Anne Line was executed for harbouring a Catholic priest. But she wasn’t the only one to suffer in this way. Margaret Clitherow and Margaret Ward were also condemned for protecting outlawed priests in Elizabethan England.   In a time when attending Catholic Mass could l...

He was the grandson of Mary Boleyn, a trusted courtier of Elizabeth I, and a patron of Shakespeare’s acting company—but history has largely overlooked George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon.     Born into Boleyn blood, Carey rose through the ranks of Elizabethan society, earning knighthood, securing key military positions, and even becoming Lord Chamberlain, one of the most powerful roles at court. But o...

She was the wife of a Boleyn descendant, the patron of some of Elizabeth I’s greatest minds, and a member of the powerful Spencer dynasty—the same family as Princess Diana. Yet history has largely forgotten Elizabeth Carey, Lady Hunsdon.   Born at Althorp, she was deeply connected to the Tudor court, married into the family of Mary Boleyn, and earned praise from some of the greatest poets, playwri...

The Scandalous Life of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton   A suspected traitor, a royal insider, and a man linked to one of the most shocking murder plots of the 17th century—Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, knew how to survive in a world of political intrigue.   - He escaped imprisonment five times - Rose to power under James I - Played a shadowy role in the Overbury murder scandal   But was he...

When nature called in Tudor times, where did people go? The answer might surprise (or horrify) you! From Henry VIII’s velvet-covered 'throne' to communal "houses of easement" and gong scourers wading through filth, Tudor sanitation was far from glamorous.   - What did they use to wipe? - Where did all that waste really go? - And why were some fireplaces used as emergency toilets?!   Join me as we...

Think the Tudors were covered in dirt and never washed? Think again! While they didn’t have hot showers or fancy soaps, they had their own clever ways of staying clean—some of which might surprise you!     - Linen undergarments kept them fresh   - Toothbrushes? Not quite, but they cleaned their teeth!   - No showers, but daily “strip washes”   -  Fancy soap balls scented with rose & musk     A...

The Tragic Tale of Katherine Grey. On this day in Tudor history, 21st February 1568, Lady Katherine Grey was laid to rest. Born into royal blood, she was a cousin of Elizabeth I and the sister of Lady Jane Grey, the ill-fated ‘Nine Days’ Queen.’ But while Jane met the executioner’s block, Katherine faced a different kind of sentence—imprisonment, heartbreak, and separation from the man she loved....

She served all of Henry VIII’s queens, navigated the treacherous world of court politics, and became the closest confidante of England’s last Tudor queen consort—yet history has largely forgotten her.   Meet Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke—younger sister to Catherine Parr, but so much more than just a royal relation. From witnessing the fall of Anne Boleyn to standing by Catherine Howard on her...

On 19th February 1567, while imprisoned in the Tower of London, Lady Margaret Douglas received devastating news—her son, Lord Darnley, had been brutally murdered at Kirk o’ Field. But this was more than just the loss of a son—it shattered her dynastic hopes, leaving her a grieving mother caught in the deadly game of Tudor and Stuart politics.     - Granddaughter of Henry VII, Margaret was born int...

Mary I & Elizabeth I   They were daughters of Henry VIII, England’s first two crowned queens regnant, and two of the most formidable women in Tudor history. Yet while Mary I’s reign lasted just five years, Elizabeth ruled for over 44 years, shaping what many consider a Golden Age.     - Both fought for their thrones—Mary against Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth against Mary, Queen of Scots.   - Both...

Mary, Queen of Scots & Lord Darnley   On 17th February 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots met Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley—and fell in love. It seemed like the perfect match: Darnley was young, charming, handsome, and of royal blood, with claims to both the Scottish and English thrones.   But what started as a passionate romance quickly became Mary’s greatest mistake.   - Darnley’s ambition and arroganc...

Did Catherine of Aragon really ride into battle at Flodden, dressed in armour, leading her troops to victory?    It’s a thrilling image—one even some 16th-century sources suggest! But the truth? Catherine wasn’t at Flodden… yet her role in England’s victory was still crucial.   As regent in Henry VIII’s absence, she was no passive queen. She rallied troops, arranged for supplies, and even wanted t...

Did you know we can measure Henry VIII’s expanding waistline just by looking at his armour? As a young king, Henry was tall, athletic, and an expert jouster, but by the end of his life, he had ballooned in size, struggling with mobility, illness, and royal excess. And thanks to his custom-made suits of armour, we can track just how much he grew! From a trim 34-inch waist in his prime to a staggeri...

Love in the Tudor court was rarely a fairy tale... For some, it led to power and triumph, while for others, it ended in heartbreak, scandal, or even death.   From secret marriages and forbidden romances to devotion beyond death, these are some of the most fascinating love stories in Tudor history.    A queen’s sister who risked everything for love...  A royal romance doomed by scandal...  A couple...

On this day in Tudor history, 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s young queen, met her brutal end. But was she truly guilty of treason? And why did Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, share her fate?   - A scandalous past, forbidden meetings, and the wrath of a dangerous king—Catherine’s downfall was swift and brutal. - Jane Boleyn, a woman forever tied to the fall of Anne Boleyn, found her...

On this day in Tudor history, 12th February 1584, Catholic priest James Fenn was brutally executed at Tyburn—his crime? Simply practising his faith.   Once a scholar, husband, and father, Fenn’s life took a dramatic turn when he refused to conform to Elizabeth I’s religious laws. Accused of treason in a shocking show trial, he was condemned to the horrific traitor’s death. But was he truly guilty—...

On this day in Tudor history, 11th February 1466, Elizabeth of York was born—a woman whose bloodline shaped the future of England. She was the daughter of a king, the sister of the Princes in the Tower, the wife of Henry VII, and the mother of Henry VIII. Yet, despite her importance, she is often overshadowed by the powerful men and women she was connected to.     But Elizabeth wasn’t just a passi...

On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died—but not before leaving behind a legacy of scandal, treason, and even magic!   - Gambling debts pushed him to desperate measures—he bought a magic ring that supposedly summoned angels to help him, but did it work? (Spoiler: No.) - Then came the shocking accusations—plotting against his own wife and father...