Edward was the son of Edward II and Isabella of France, and became king in 1327 (his father being deposed by his mother and her lover, Roger Mortimer). A year later Edward married Philippa of Hainault, with whom he had a total of 13 children!! Isabella and Roger ruled in Edward’s name until 1330. Edward then took power back, resulting in the execution of Mortimer and the banishing of his Mother. Edward’s primary focus was now war with France. Ongoing territorial disputes were intensified in 1340 when Edward assumed the title of king of France, starting a war that would last intermittently for over a century. In July 1346, Edward…

The market has been running since the 1970’s, although historically a market has been here since the 17th. century! We generally attend the market most Saturdays of the year. Sometimes we have the odd Saturday off and we also like to take some holidays!! The market itself, however, only closes Christmas Day and Easter. Whatever your interest, there is a great selection of Coins, stamps, postcards, militaria, ephemera, banknotes etc. Therefore, something for every collector and it is a great way to spend a Saturday morning! Turn up when you want – but although we are normally setting up from around 0600 hrs. Generally in full swing by 0800 hrs…

    Persons of royal blood were thought to have the “God given” power of healing by this condition by touch, and sovereigns of England and France practised this power to cure sufferers of scrofula, meaning “Swine Evil” as it was common in pigs form of tuberculosis of the bones and lymph nodes, commonly known as the “King’s or Queen’s Evil” or “Morbus Regius.” In France it was called the “Mal De Roi.” Curiously William the Lion, King of Scotland is recorded in 1206 as curing a case of Scrofula by his touching and blessing a child who had the ailment. Charles I touched around 100 people shortly after his…

Edward, the son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, was born on 28 April 1442 at Rouen in France.  Edward inherited his claim to the throne in 1460.  With support from the powerful Earl of Warwick(‘the Kingmaker’), Edward defeated the Lancastrians. Consequently with Henry VI overthrown, Edward was crowned Edward IV.  Warwick believed he could control the new King. He attempted to negotiate a foreign marriage.However in 1464 Edward secretly married Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner. Warwick was furious and allied himself to Edward’s brother George, Duke of Clarence. George was attempting to lead a revolt against the king at that time. Warwick and Clarence fled to France and joined Margaret…

  DURHAM HOUSE by Anthony Travis March 2016 (with reference to Thomas Allen’s study (1839) and the survey of London 1937 by the LCC)   Durham Place was the most easterly of the mansions along the south side of the Strand extending from the boundary of York House on the west to Ivy Lane. Its extensive grounds included river frontage. According to Thomas Allen in his publication of 1839, Antony de Bec (or Bek) built a Town residence for him and his successors, known as ‘Durham Place,’ in the Strand. Bec was Bishop of that See from 1284 to 1310. Notably he was also Titular Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1306…

What was the Money and Currency  like in 1558 to 1603, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I? What was it worth? What were the wages like? The money and currency of the period was all in coins – there was no paper money. During the Renaissance period coins were minted in either gold or silver. The English pound originated from a measure of weight which was used to represent a sum of money. 240 pennies equalled a pound or 20 shillings equalled one pound. The penny was the basic monetary unit of the period. The names of the English units of currency and how they were abbreviated in written…