During the early 1540s, England was under serious threat of invasion from its Catholic neighbours. In response, Henry VIII expanded his fleet of warships and constructed a lengthy chain of coastal forts.

#OTD, 10 September 1533, three days after her birth, Elizabeth I was baptised at the Church of the Observant Franciscans at Greenwich.

Henry VIII’s gardens at Hampton Court have long since disappeared, but they were considered one of the most magnificent gardens of the sixteenth century in England and rivalled some of the best of Europe.

The monasteries in the north of England strenuously resisted state efforts to close them but ultimately it was to no avail. In a brutally brief four years, all the monasteries across England were dissolved.

#OTD, 3 September 1541, Henry VIII created the new Diocese of Gloucester and St Peter’s Abbey became Gloucester Cathedral.

The medieval origins of Penshurst Place in Kent, and its long-standing connection to the Sidney family, are well-known. However, its royal associations are less so. In Issue 19, Dr Elizabeth Norton examines the Tudor history and royal ownership of one of England’s finest medieval great houses.

Issue 19 is here! We’re so thrilled with this issue - and we know you’ll love it too. Take a look at what's inside! tudorplaces.com/products/iss...

#OTD, 28 August 1583, William Latymer, Dean of Peterborough, was buried at Peterborough Cathedral. Born in 1499 in Suffolk, Latymer studied at Corpus Christi College at Cambridge, where he read canon law and arts and went on to become an evangelical clergyman.

“It gives me great pleasure and pride to share with you the completion of my latest ‘must have’ garden feature in the world of Tudor gardens: the obligatory ‘Mount’. It has taken more than three years of research and planning to facilitate this ambitious garden project.

#OTD 21 August 1535, Henry VIII came to stay at Acton Court with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, while on his summer progress around the West Country.

From abbot’s house to headquarters for the Council of the North, temporary palace to School for the Blind and, most recently, university campus, the King’s Manor in York has had many, varied uses over the centuries.

#OTD, 8 August 1553, the funeral of Edward VI, who had died the previous month on 6 July, was held at Westminster Abbey. The burial service from the English Prayer Book was used for the first time for a monarch during his funeral, and then Edward VI was laid to rest in the Abbey’s Lady Chapel.

#OTD, 6 August 1623, Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, died in Stratford-upon-Avon. Little is known about Anne, who became Shakespeare’s wife in November 1582, when she was around twenty-six years old, and William was just eighteen.

Lady Margaret Beaufort had a network of connections with prominent figures and places in Stamford, the market town close to her palace at Collyweston and near the Lincolnshire properties she inherited from her mother, Margaret Beauchamp.

Henry VII overcame one of the strongest threats to his newly-won crown on 16 June 1487 when his forces defeated the rebel army led by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln and Francis, Viscount Lovell on behalf of the pretender, Lambert Simnel, at the Battle of Stoke.

Originally granted Durham Place in Henry VIII’s will, Elizabeth was persuaded by the Duke of Northumberland to exchange it for Somerset Place, which came into her possession in 1553.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries was the most significant land redistribution in English history, a four-year period of extraordinary upheaval that redefined the spiritual and economic fabric of the realm.

#OTD, 28 July 1540, Henry VIII married his fifth wife, the young Catherine Howard, away from the gaze of the court at Oatlands Palace, in Surrey. Shockingly, on the very same day, Thomas Cromwell was executed at Tower Hill, reportedly with “three ragged blows of an axe”, for heresy and treason.

“It gives me great pleasure and pride to share with you the completion of my latest ‘must have’ garden feature in the world of Tudor gardens: the obligatory ‘Mount’. It has taken more than three years of research and planning to facilitate this ambitious garden project.

#OTD, 25 July 1554, Mary I married Philip II of Spain, the son of her cousin, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, at Winchester Cathedral. In order for Philip to have kingly rank, other than as Mary’s husband, Charles had abdicated the Kingdom of Naples to him.

#OTD, 23 July 1536, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, died at St James's Palace aged just 17 years. The son of Henry VIII and his mistress Elizabeth Blount, he was the only one of Henry VIII’s children born out of wedlock to be acknowledged with titles, honours and a royal residence.

Once England’s second city after London, Norwich was a thriving hub of trade, culture, and religious tension during the Tudor age.

Take a look inside the latest issue of @tudorplaces.bsky.social with me. My article explores Lady Margaret Beaufort’s lesser-known connections to Stamford in Lincolnshire. Out now in Issue 18

#OTD, 19 July 1545, Henry VIII’s flagship, the Mary Rose, sank at the Battle of the Solent.

From abbot’s house to headquarters for the Council of the North, temporary palace to School for the Blind and, most recently, university campus, the King’s Manor in York has had many, varied uses over the centuries.

#OTD, 16 July 1557, Anne of Cleves died at Chelsea Manor. Anne was briefly the fourth wife of Henry VIII, before their marriage was annulled and he went on to marry Catherine Howard.

Elsyng was originally built by Sir Thomas Lovell, favoured courtier of Henry VII and Henry VIII, who both visited it regularly. Situated to the north of London, it became a residence for Henry VIII’s children outside the city.

Lovely response to my latest piece for @tudorplaces.bsky.social. I had great fun revisiting my earlier research on Margaret Beaufort’s connections to Stamford in Lincolnshire for this one, and am very pleased to be able to share it with a wider audience.

Here’s what Henry VII aficionado and Tudor legend Nathen Amin had to say about my forthcoming biography of Honor Lisle:

#OTD, 14 July 1551, both sons of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, died at Buckden Palace in a double family tragedy.

Look what just arrived. It’s the latest issue of the fabulous @tudorplaces.bsky.social magazine. I wrote the feature on The Lost Elsyng Palace #tudorplaces #elsyngpalace #enfieldpalace #henryviii

Henry VII overcame one of the strongest threats to his newly-won crown on 16 June 1487 when his forces defeated the rebel army led by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln and Francis, Viscount Lovell on behalf of the pretender, Lambert Simnel, at the Battle of Stoke.

Lady Margaret Beaufort had a network of connections with prominent figures and places in Stamford, the market town close to her palace at Collyweston and near the Lincolnshire properties she inherited from her mother, Margaret Beauchamp.

#OTD, 9 July 1540, Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled. Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves, his fourth wife, at Greenwich Palace on 6 January the same year. From the king's perspective, the wedding day was not a happy occasion.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries was the most significant land redistribution in English history, a four-year period of extraordinary upheaval that redefined the spiritual and economic fabric of the realm.

#OTD, 6 July 1553, Edward VI died at Greenwich Palace aged 15, without reaching his majority as king.

#OTD, 6 July 1535, Thomas More, English lawyer, scholar, writer, Member of Parliament and Chancellor during the reign of Henry VIII, was executed for treason.

Issue 18 is out now! Fans of Tudor history will love this one. Take a look at what's inside... Get your copy here: bit.ly/44JLVON

More medieval tiles from the Chapter House, Westminster Abbey. The area you can see has lots of tikes if the same design arranged together in sections. These are in the griffon section — mythical beasts symbolising courage and strength. #TilesOnTuesday

OTD 1 July 1536 Elizabeth and Mary were declared illegitimate. The Second Succession Act of 1536 formally declared both Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate and stripped them of their succession rights.

#OTD 28 June 1491, Henry VIII was born at Greenwich Palace. He was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Upon the death of his brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales, in 1502, he became the heir to the throne, which he ascended on 21 April 1509, a few months short of his eighteenth birthday.

OTD 27 June 1497, Thomas Flamank and Michael Joseph (Michale an Gof) were executed at Tyburn. They led an uprising of Cornishmen, angry at increased taxes and royal demands, who made a remarkable march across England, to London, to presnt their grievances to the government.

Intrigued that the New Inn at Gloucester is up for sale. It is one of a very small number of genuine mediaeval inns still open for business. Dendrochronology indicates timbers felled in 1432. Having looked at my recent royalties, no, I won't be putting in an offer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A very rare painted armorial memorial at Saxton in Yorkshire from the reign of Mary Tudor. This timber panel commemorates Anthony Hammond 'esquire' of Scarthingwell, who died in 1554 and lies 'under the stone' that is presumably below where the tablet was first set.

It's been one of those days (yes even medieval guild halls as stunningly beautiful as us have bad days). So for those having a difficult Thursday here's a sunny Hall to brighten up your day

Doors within doors at Westminster Abbey . #AdoorableThursday

Largely built in the early Tudor period, Great St Mary’s Church is a masterpiece of Perpendicular Gothic architecture and one of Cambridge’s most recognisable landmarks. In issue 17, Julian Humphrys tells its story. bit.ly/3YFNbPD

Died (alas!) on this day in 1576, in London, Flemish miniaturist Levina Teerlinc, who served at courts of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Here, Lady Catherine Grey and her ivory rose box.

Just a bit of Great Hall wonkiness for your Tuesday. 😗

Monument to Elizabeth Russell in St Edmund’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey. Maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I, but died young of consumption in 1601. There’s more about Elizabeth on my Instagram #MementoMoriMonday #elizabethan