English

Today in the Middle Ages: September 26, 1087

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006-09-26 11:51
On September 26, 1087, William II of England, known as William Rufus, was crowned king. He succeeded his father, William the Conqueror.

"Totally Unique" Roman Bathhouse Discovered in Kent, England

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2006-09-17 08:11
Archaeologists working on a Roman dig in Kent, England are enthusiastic about the remains of a 5th century Roman bath, calling it "totally unique" for the county.

Roman Ink

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2006-09-16 19:57
An unlikely exhibition exploring the history of tattoos in Britain has opened at Newcastle University's Museum of Antiquities. The exhibition includes archaeological evidence of military tattoos among the Roman soldiers at Hadrian's Wall.

Skeletons Tell Bloody Story

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2006-09-16 10:42
Skeletons bearing evidence of terrible injuries have been discovered beneath the floor of a dining hall in the North Yorkshire town of Towton, site of the longest and bloodiest battle ever fought in England.

Today in the Middle Ages: September 3, 1189

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006-09-03 11:04
Richard I of England, called the Lion Heart, was crowned king in Westminster on September 3, 1189. The crusading king never learned to speak English and spent all but six months of his reign abroad.

Medieval Law Saddles Queen with Rat-Infested House

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2006-08-31 19:50
Residents of Manchester, England have declared Her Majesty owner of of an abandoned and vandalized house thanks to a 607-year-old law that turns over ownership of abandoned buildings to the Crown.

Today in the Middle Ages: August 31, 1057

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006-08-31 10:45
Leofric, Earl of Mercia and the husband of Lady Godiva, died on August 31, 1057.

Round Table Building Discovered at Windsor Castle

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2006-08-30 18:40
Channel 4's Time Team may have discovered evidence of the existence of the original round table at Windsor Castle. The team has found some evidence of a round structure built by Edward III constructed to house the table and the original 300 Knights of the Garter.

Today in the Middle Ages: August 29, 1475

Submitted by Ursula on Tue, 2006-08-29 11:50
Edward IV of England invaded France on August 29, 1475, a few years after eliminating Lancastrian resistance at the Battle of Tewkesbury.

Today in the Middle Ages: August 27, 1172

Submitted by Ursula on Sun, 2006-08-27 15:59
Marguerite, wife of Henry Plantagenet "the Young King", was crowned Queen of England on August 27, 1172, two years after her husband was crowned during his father Henry II's lifetime.

Possible Benedictine Guesthouse Found Under Pub

Submitted by JaneStockton on Sat, 2006-08-26 16:27
Archaeologists believe they have unearthed a medieval Benedictine hostelry beneath a pub near Byland Abbey near Coxwold.

Time Team Dig Up Queen's Gardens Searching For Tennis Court of Mary, Queen of Scots

Submitted by JaneStockton on Wed, 2006-08-23 00:07
TV time travellers, Channel 4's Time Team have been given permission to dig in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to search for the tennis court and bathhouse of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Holyrood and the foundations of Edward III's banqueting hall at Windsor Castle.

Unique Tudor Water Tower Discovered

Submitted by JaneStockton on Tue, 2006-08-22 08:22
A structure, previously thought to be a folly or hawking platform, is now believed to be a unique Tudor water tower.

Records Document Challenge Between British Monarch and Pretender

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2006-08-15 08:04
New records released by the British National Archive show that Anthony Hall, who claimed to be a descendent of Henry VIII in the early 20th century, deserved to be declared insane for threatening to lop off the head of King George V.

Saxon and Norman Artifacts Found in Southampton Dig

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006-08-12 15:41
Excavation of a future construction site in Southampton, UK produced artifacts from the eleventh, fourteenth and twentieth centuries.

Obscure Medieval Law Frustrates Britons

Submitted by Vallawulf on Sat, 2006-08-12 08:00
A law dating back to the Middle Ages is causing mayhem in the British real estate market.

England's Doomsday Book Online

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2006-08-09 11:55
The British National Archives has an entire section of their website devoted to the Doomsday Book including downloadable images.

Grendel: the Opera

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2006-08-08 08:10
Grendel, a new opera from Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor, opened recently at the Lincoln Center Festival. Based on Beowulf but told from the monster's point of view, the opera is sung in Old English by the humans while Grendel sings in contemporary language.

Robin Hood's Castle Discovered?

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2006-08-07 16:12
Researchers excavating a site in Bolsterstone, England believe they may have found the home of Robin Hood. Experts base their claim on the belief that the mythical Robin Hood was based on the son of the Earl of Huntingdon.

Roman Road to Nowhere

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2006-08-06 16:23
Peddars Way near Thetford in west Norfolk, England, was built by the Romans 2,000 years ago and appears to lead nowhere. Archaeologists are now searching for clues to a destination, such as a fort, which would make construction of the road logical.

Ear Scoop Declared Treasure

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2006-08-05 15:50
A medieval silver grooming implement discovered earlier this year by a metal detectorist, has been declared treasure by the Hatfield Coroner's Court.

Known World Players announce performance of Wakefield Cycle for Pennsic 2007

Submitted by Justin on Fri, 2006-08-04 11:00
Press Release: The Known World Players are proud to announce their most ambitious project to date for Pennsic 2007: a selection of ten to twelve plays from the Wakefield Cycle, to be performed on pageant wagons in authentic medieval style.

Record Price for 14th-century English Coin

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006-07-29 10:49
One of only three known Edward III double florins went for UK£460,000 at Spink auction house. The coin has a face value of six shillings.

Seeking Shakespeare in Connecticut

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2006-07-27 18:57
An exhibition of three paintings depicting the likeness of William Shakespeare is on display at the Yale Center for British Art. Searching for Shakespeare will be in New Haven, CT until September 17, 2006.

The Plantagenets and Crecy

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2006-07-26 17:41
In an article in Primitive Archer Magazine, Gene Langston looks at the Battle of Crecy and the Plantagenet influence on historical archery.

Latin for Beginners

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2006-07-25 13:51
The British Archives has posted a tutorial for those who want to learn Latin. Latin 1086 – 1733: a practical online tutorial for beginners uses early documents to demonstrate how Latin was used and to teach the basics.

British outbred by Anglo-Saxon 'apartheid'

Submitted by Gwenhyfar on Wed, 2006-07-19 11:33
New genetic research suggests the Anglo-Saxons who conquered England in the fifth century spread their genes to the local population using a system of apartheid.

Today in the Middle Ages: July 15, 1573

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006-07-15 10:12
English architect Inigo Jones was born on July 15, 573.

Today in the Middle Ages: July 13, 1527

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006-07-13 17:01
John Dee, scholar, mystic, and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I, was born on July 13, 1527.

Dorset Kitchen Renovation Unearths Roman Floor

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2006-07-13 07:07
Restaurant owner Luciano Tombolani discovered much more than he bargained for when he authorized the renovation of a kitchen for his Italian restaurant: a mosaic Roman floor.