Lady Jane Grey Reference Guide

My review of ‘Bloody Mary: Tudor Terror, 1553-1558’ by Phil Carradice

Posted on 17th July 2018 by Tamise

After a general move away from the ‘Bloody Mary’ stereotype in recent biographies, I must admit that my heart sank when I read the title. However, I was pleased to see that although the book focuses on the Marian persecutions, it also explores the reasons behind the burnings, Mary’s character, the roles played by her advisors and her husband and looks at why the burnings failed to achieve their aim.

While not absolving Mary of the blame, Carradice does not exclude the positive achievements of her short reign. For those wanting an introduction to Queen Mary and to the religious burnings, this is a good place to start.

Thank you to Pen & Sword Books for my review copy.

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged Bloody Mary: Tudor Terror, Book Reviews, Books 2018, Mary I, Phil Carradice | Comments Off

Quene of Bradgate Jewellery Collection

Posted on 13th July 2018 by Tamise

Bradgate Park have launched their ‘Quene of Bradgate’ jewellery collection.

Inspired by ‘Jane the Quene’ signature this simple jewellery collection is made in Leicester from polymer clay set on stainless steel backs.

The colours are tribute to Jane – grey and gold (grey for her family name and gold for the throne of England). The emblem is inspired by her signature squiggle on the ‘e’.

This limited range is available from the Visitor Centre at Bradgate Park or online at Quene of Bradgate Jewellery.

Posted in Memorabilia | Tagged Bradgate Park, jewellery, Queen of Bradgate Park | Comments Off

Books 2018 – on sale now – Bloody Mary: Tudor Terror, 1553-1558 (A History of Terror) by Phil Carradice (paper back)

Posted on 5th July 2018 by Tamise

‘When Mary Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VIII, succeeded to the throne of England in 1553 it was with wild rejoicing and a degree of popularity rarely seen on the accession of a British monarch. Yet at her death five years later she was almost universally reviled and hated by her people so much so that she was posthumously awarded the sobriquet Bloody Mary. Mary’s revenge on the church and on a religion she hated was swift and total. Noblemen like the Duke of Northumberland, would-be queens like Lady Jane Grey, churchmen like Thomas Cranmer and bishops Latimer and Ridley, Mary’s fires or the executioner’s axe ended the lives of all of them. During her brief reign she restored the Catholic faith to England and had over 280 Protestant martyrs burned at the stake. For a reign that looked so promising Mary’s brief period in power brought the greatest officially sanctioned religious bloodletting the country had ever seen. And at the end, the stench of the execution fires and the grey smoke that settled like a pall across the country seemed to epitomize the reactionary forces that had assumed control.’

From Amazon.co.uk

Further details – Amazon.co.uk