Swindon in the Past Lane

It's more than two years since the Woodville  re-enactors last visited Lydiard Park. They camped in the park where they told the story of the War of the Roses (with weapons), gave demonstrations of medieval crafts and a display of archery in the Walled Garden. Philippa Gregory tells the story of the Cousins' War (same event, different name) and the Woodville family. Both versions have a direct connection to Lydiard House and the rise of the Tudor family. Let's have a Woodville Fest with the re-enactors AND a Philippa Gregory talk/book signing with a showing of an episode of the White Queen. How fantastic would that be? Important notice:

Heiress Margaret Beauchamp, Henry VII's grandmother, owned Lydiard Park in 1420. Her daughter, Margaret Beaufort, Henry's mother, was very close to her St John half siblings, finding them places at court and arranging advantageous marriages for her extended family, In August 1592 Elizabeth I called in at Lydiard House on her summer progress. She held a privy council meeting at the house and knighted her cousin of the half blood John St John during her stay. So why aren't we bigging up the Tudor connections at Lydiard House? Telegraph journalist Hannah Betts describes the enduring appeal of the Tudors in this entertaining article. Follow the link to read the full feature. If history is reducible to one era for us Brits, it is the Tudor period. Even before the phenomenon that is Wolf Hall, our favourite version of Ye Olden Dayes was that with codpieces, ruffs, beheadings, and irascible redheads. Blame it on Shakespeare, blame it on 'Enery the Eighth, putting t...