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.
Walking the Kettlethorpe Estate: Fenton, Laughterton and the Trent
It has been on my mind for months to find a walk that explores the Kettlethorpe estate as it might…
Alison Weir at Lincoln Cathedral
On Saturday 14 March I had the pleasure of attending a talk by historian Alison Weir on Katherine Swynford in…
Katherine in Unexpected Places: A Fictional Hunt
I was recently given a copy of Cry God for Harry, the 1971 novel by Martha Rofheart. Unsurprisingly, given its…
Was Katherine Swynford Really a “She-Devil”?
How Lincoln cathedral choir to promote Katherine Swynford tours Looking at the information apropos the 2026 Lincoln Cathedral Katherine Swynford…
Lincoln Cathedral Katherine Swynford tours summer 2026
The dates for these fascinating tours have been announced. I can highly recommend them and the opportunity to visit one…
Katherine and Joan: Tombs, Memory, and the Responsibilities of Interpretation
My photos from this morning: To get remotely decent images involves standing on tip toe ( I am over six…
