I began with Katherine Swynford. Now I’m following her descendants, the people around Edward II and the places where their stories still leave traces.
Here you’ll find my visits, photographs and the questions behind my books. Choose a story to begin, or browse every article below.
Fotheringhay and its royal lives
A church, a vanished castle and the Neville family behind the royal names.
Eleanor Neville at Northampton
The battlefield and the losses that shaped a woman at the heart of my next book.
Latest articles
Newest first. For a route through the people and themes, visit Medieval Lives.
My Lord John: Georgette Heyer.
Georgette HeyerWikimedia Commons Every so often a book gains a reputation that becomes difficult to shake. Readers hear that…
Strong Northern Women
Coronation street epitomises strong northern women This week has felt rather different from most others. For the first time, Joan…
Remembering Katherine Swynford in Lincoln
May 10th marks the anniversary of the death of Katherine Swynford in 1403. She died in Lincoln, probably at the…
Finding Joan Beaufort
The last couple of weeks have been spent debating whether I could actually write a book about Joan Beaufort. Given…
Joan Beaufort at Raby Castle
Painting of Joan Painting of Ralph first Earl of Westmorland Raby Visiting Raby Castle as part of my ongoing…
Elanor of Castile is very much part of Johns Story as his Great Grandmother
Millennium window Harby Harby Church today Victorian representation Looking towards the supposed site of Harby Manor It is easy to think…
