Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

He was knighted at Henry VIII’s third wedding, carried Queen Jane Seymour’s coffin, and greeted Anne of Cleves on her arrival in England. He fought in France, jousted at Edward VI’s coronation, served as MP under Mary and Elizabeth, and—most heartbreakingly—wept as he escorted Elizabeth I to the Tower during Wyatt’s Rebellion. On this day in Tudor history, 13th August 1566, Sir Humphrey Radcliffe...

He reformed how we pronounce Greek, helped dissolve the old Church, negotiated for Elizabeth I… and somehow survived every Tudor monarch from Henry VIII’s reign onward. On this day in Tudor history, 12th August 1577, Sir Thomas Smith—a scholar, diplomat, and political survivor—died quietly at his home in Essex. But his life was anything but quiet. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in t...

On this day in Tudor history, 11th August 1556, Sir John Kingsmill died—quietly, naturally, and with his head still on his shoulders. That might not sound remarkable… but in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I, it absolutely was. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video I’m introducing you to a lesser-known but fascinating figure who worked with Thomas Cromwell, h...

Was Richard III really the monster Shakespeare painted him to be? Or have centuries of myth and propaganda hidden the man he truly was? In this exclusive interview, I (Claire Ridgway, historian and author) sit down with the creative team behind "A Taste of Loyalty"—a powerful new short film (inspired by Matthew Lewis’s novel "Loyalty"), which explores one of the most pivotal (and misunderstood) mo...

Wormwood-strewn floors. Poisoned rat cakes. Bounties on hedgehogs. No, it’s not a dark fairy tale—it’s real Tudor pest control. In a world without bug spray or exterminators, how did the Tudors tackle fleas, flies, rats, mice… and even moths? Let’s just say… they got creative. And ruthless. I'm Claire Ridgway, historian and author—and in today’s video, we’re diving into the bizarre, herbal, and so...

A teenage English princess. A powerful Scottish king nearly two decades older. A lavish wedding that would shape the future of the British Isles. On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1503, Princess Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, married James IV of Scotland in a glittering ceremony filled with royal pageantry, political strategy—and secrets. But behind the boar’s head feasts, jewel-enc...

He was born a lovechild, died an exiled nobleman—and in between, he explored the West Indies, built ships for Italian dukes, and underwent a bigamous marriage. On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1574, Sir Robert Dudley was born—the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and Lady Douglas Sheffield. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and tod...

Welcome to another chilling instalment of Tudor True Crime with me, historian and author Claire Ridgway. Today, we uncover the dark story of Charles Stourton, 8th Baron Stourton—a nobleman whose pride and rage ended in cold-blooded murder… and a very public hanging. What started as a bitter land feud Escalated into a siege at a church Ended with two bound men, a candlelit killing, and a secret bur...

The Untold Story of Sir Reginald Bray - He wasn’t a king… but he helped make one. Sir Reginald Bray may not be a household name, but this quiet powerhouse of the Tudor court knew Henry VII from boyhood, helped plan the invasion that toppled Richard III, and then served as one of the most powerful men in England. - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Spymaster - Master of royal revenues - Patron...

He dreamt of invading Ireland with Spanish gold and papal blessing… Instead, he died in a Moroccan ditch, his legs blown off by cannon fire. This is the incredible, tragic, and chaotic story of Thomas Stukeley—Tudor adventurer, mercenary, spy, and the man rumoured to be King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and today we’re diving into the Battle of Alcácer Q...

You’re walking through a busy modern city—and then a towering Gothic church stops you in your tracks. That’s exactly what happened to me in Bristol, when I stumbled upon St Mary Redcliffe, a church Queen Elizabeth I herself called “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England.” I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in this episode I share the story behind this incredible...

What connects legendary singer Kate Bush and Tudor queen Anne Boleyn? In this fascinating and inspiring interview, I chat with novelist Natalia Richards, author of The Falcon’s Rise and The Falcon’s Flight—two beautifully written novels exploring Anne Boleyn’s early life and rise to power. Natalia shares how she transitioned from the world of music (yes, Kate Bush really did ask her to be a backin...

On this day in Tudor history, 1st August 1534, Catholic gentleman Germain Gardiner published a scathing posthumous attack on Protestant martyr John Frith—over a year after Frith had been burned at the stake. But who was Frith? Why did Gardiner care enough to write such a fiery rebuttal after his death? And how did both men end up executed for their beliefs? In this episode, I explore: Frith’s radi...

The Shocking End of a Tudor Baron - Edmund Sheffield’s Fall   He was a baron, courtier, soldier, and poet... with powerful patrons like Thomas Cromwell and George Boleyn. But on 31st July 1549, during the chaos of Kett’s Rebellion, 28-year-old Edmund Sheffield met a shocking and brutal end—not on a battlefield, but in a muddy ditch at the hands of a rebel butcher. In this episode, I delve into the...

Storms at sea. Panic at court. And a queen under guard. On this day in Tudor history — 30th July 1588 — England’s fate shifted with the wind. The once-mighty Spanish Armada, already damaged by the Battle of Gravelines, was now scattered and driven northwards by violent storms. Many in England saw it as divine intervention — a “Protestant Wind” sent by God to defend the realm. In this podcast, I ex...

He didn’t wear a crown… but his choice may have changed the course of English history. On 29th July 1504, Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, died quietly at his manor in Lancashire. But nearly two decades earlier, at the bloody Battle of Bosworth, his decision to support his stepson — Henry Tudor — was a turning point in English history, ending centuries of Plantagenet rule and beginning the Tudor...

Starved. Poisoned. Locked in a castle tower. In Tudor England, one woman endured unthinkable cruelty at the hands of her noble husband—imprisoned in a tower, reduced to drinking her own urine to survive, and desperate enough to smuggle a secret letter to Thomas Cromwell begging for rescue. Her name was Elizabeth Hungerford. Her husband? Walter Hungerford—a man later executed for treason, sorcery,...

What if I told you that England’s very first official voyage of exploration to the New World  didn’t  begin in London—or even under an Englishman’s command? Join me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, as I tell you about "The Matthew", the tiny replica ship moored in Bristol that once carried explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) across the Atlantic in 1497. Backed by Henry VII, Cabot’s bold jo...

Join me, Claire Ridgway, as I sit down with historian and bestselling author Toni Mount to celebrate the release of The Colour of Darkness — book 13 in the gripping Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery series. In this fascinating interview, Toni Mount takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, research into 15th-century London, and the creation of her beloved protagonist, artist and reluctant...

Imagine stepping into court expecting justice… and instead walking into a death sentence. On this day in Tudor history, 25th July 1577, Queen Elizabeth I’s top lawyer, Nicholas Barham, died in Oxford—not by blade or betrayal, but from a silent, invisible killer: gaol fever. Within weeks, over 500 people were dead, including judges, jurors, sheriffs, and townspeople. In this podcast, I, Claire Ridg...

The Tragic Martyrdom of John Boste - They wouldn’t even let him speak. On this day in Tudor history, 24th July 1594, Catholic priest John Boste stood on the scaffold in Durham, condemned for treason simply for doing his job — ministering in secret during Elizabeth I’s reign. When guards silenced his final words, Boste prayed Psalm 116 in Latin instead. And then came the most brutal punishment of a...

John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton   This Tudor baron backed the losing side again and again… and still kept his head. Today, I’m exploring the incredible life of John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton — a nobleman who seemed to have nine lives. He fought at Towton, rebelled against Edward IV, supported Richard III, backed the pretender Lambert Simnel against Henry VII, and even attacked Yor...

What if your everyday coins could get you executed? On this day in Tudor history, 10th July 1561, Queen Elizabeth I visited the Tower of London’s Mint — not just for ceremony, but to tackle an economic disaster left by her father and brother. In this deep dive, I explore: - The shocking chaos of debased Tudor currency - How Elizabeth I’s smart recoinage of 1561 helped save England’s economy - The...

12,000 soldiers. 300+ servants. Fireworks. Tapestries. Jewels.* On this day in Tudor history, 20th July 1554, Prince Philip of Spain landed in England to marry Queen Mary I — and he didn’t exactly travel light! I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the most politically charged royal arrivals in English history. Philip wasn’t just...

What if Mark Smeaton—the lowly court musician caught up in the deadly fall of Anne Boleyn—had a voice of his own? In this special interview, I chat with historical fiction author Martha Jean Johnson, whose novel "The Queen’s Musician" retells the tragic final months of Anne Boleyn’s life through the eyes of the man history forgot. We talk about what drew her to Mark Smeaton’s story, how she resear...