I’m currently writing a non-fiction history book about Margaret Clitherow’s life and death in Tudor York. One of the most fascinating aspects of Margaret’s story is her refusal to make a plea in court. Having refused to plead guilty or otherwise, Margaret Clitherow was executed … Continue reading To Plead or Not to Plead
5th November is an important date in the calendar of the United Kingdom. Most years, the evening fills with smoke and fireworks light the skies. We call it Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night but what is it all about? On 5th November 1605 a … Continue reading Remember, Remember the 5th of November
Remember, Remember Monteagle’s Letter We’ve all heard of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, the Catholic conspiracy to kill King James I by blowing up Parliament, but why did it fail? Perhaps it was because the authorities received a tip-off a terrorist attack was about … Continue reading The Tip Off which led to Guy Fawkes’ Arrest?
We only usually hear about the men, so this blog tells the story of the women connected to the Gunpowder Plot. On November 5th in 1605, Guy Fawkes was apprehended in Westminster. His arrest foiled a deadly plan to blow up Parliament and kill the … Continue reading Women of the Gunpowder Plot
Most people in the UK have heard of Guy Fawkes. We associate him with November 5th, bonfire night and fireworks. Many of us are aware he was arrested beneath Parliament – but what else do we know about the man or the events he was … Continue reading Who Were the Gunpowder Plotters?
In 1553, a baby girl called Margaret Middleton was born in Davygate within the city walls of York in northern England. It was a time of change and turbulence in a country which had oscillated between Catholicism and Protestantism. In the reign of Queen Mary, … Continue reading The Life and Times of Saint Margaret Clitherow
This blog describes the treatment of the poor in Tudor England, with particular focus on the city of York. It takes input from multiple sources. There’s always more which could be included, so additional inputs and comments are welcome! This is the latest of a … Continue reading Down and Out in Tudor York
Due to the current crisis, a number of Tony’s history talks have sadly had to be postponed. To fill the gap in the meantime, Tony has created a brand new YouTube channel with short online history talks. They’re already proving to be very popular – … Continue reading New YouTube History Talks
This blog is about power and influence in Tudor York during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It’s written for anyone interested in the Tudor period, the city of York, or history in general. Whilst researching my latest novel The Pearl of York, Treason and … Continue reading Power and Influence in Tudor York
When researching the history of a time and/or a place, it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. My latest novel The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot is set in atmospheric Tudor York. When researching the novel, I discovered some very interesting resources. One … Continue reading Recusants and Punishment in Elizabethan York
