Good morning from the Welsh Marches. All grey but these little primroses guaranteed to make me smile.

A grey day of heavy cloud. So here's a memory of a summer visit to Stokesay Castle just up the Marches north of Ludlow, on a glorious day of blue skies. Any excuse to visit Stokesay and the little church wih its box pews, mostly rebuilt after the damage of the Civil War ...

Good morning from the #WelshMarches. Anemone blanda magnificent in yesterday’s sunshine. Today it rains again.

Happy World Book Day. The superb image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sitting quietly and reading, in the altarpiece in Ghent by Jan van Eyck. Painted in 1432. #WorldBookDay2026

Good morning from the Welsh Marches shrouded in thick mist. The sun is just beginning to break through and the oaks are looming.

On This Day 4th March 1461 Edward Duke of York was procaimed King of England in Westminster Hall, taking the coronation oath although not crowned in Westminster Abbey until June. Edward IV and father Richard Duke of York in the west window in the church of St Laurence in Ludlow.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Perfect start to the day with mist in the valley.

The Queen and The Countess 'An enthralling insight into the Wars of the Roses seen through the eyes of two powerful women. A superb read' CLARE MARCHANT www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Counte...

For all ebook readers in the US. A Marriage of Fortune on offer for only 99c. The engrossing medieval Paston family. 'A compelling tale of a family caught up in the turmoil of the Wars of the Roses... Be warned: it's dangerously addictive' TRACY BORMAN www.amazon.com/Marriage-For...

And another splendid March Book of Hours page. from the famous Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry created in the early 14th century. March events such as ploughing with oxen and pruning the vines with the Chateau de Lusignan in the background.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Camellias at their superb best.

Celebrating the arrival of the month of March A glorious calendar page from a Book of Hours. This Calendar Page for March from the Bedford Hours, made in France, c. 1410-1430. Pruning the vines and the star sign image of Aries for the final days of the month.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Early sun but it may be fleeting.

Celebrating St. David's Day today, 1st March, and all things Welsh, with this delightful little medieval dragon with golden wings.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Dawn over the orchards. A distant woodpecker hammering.

I have just completed the edits for my publishers for a new novel. It has as yet no title and no cover but progress is being made. More anon ...

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A morning of gloomy damp and drizzle. So here's a sunny view of the main medieval block at Ludlow Castle, taken through a Tudor window.

Flagging up the final two days. Excellent News for ebook Readers in the UK. A Court of Betrayal for only 99p. '...crosses swathes of time seamlessly. A gorgeous bouquet of a novel.' amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Grey skies over the orchards. Rain approaching but a blackbird is singing on the telegraph post.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A magical misty start with the sun breaking through. Greenfinches visiting for the first time in many years.

From the archives since today is very spring-like here. A sunny spring day in Chester, the photo taken from the Rows.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The bright gold of celandines opening in the sunshine yesterday.

On this day 23rd February 1421, Katherine de Valois, wife of King Henry V, was crowned Queen in Westminster Abbey. A short life, if a dramatic one since her path as a widow was to cross that of Owen Tudor.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The garden where there is a herb patch in a frost pocket which always takes a long time to thaw out, still looking a touch wintry, but it's coming on ...

From the archives on a bright morning today with hints of spring. A spring day at Leeds castle some years ago when I was talking about Joanna of Navarre and The Queen's Choice. What a lovely place it was to stay overnight and stroll around when all was quiet.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. My little pot grown peach, tucked inside for protection, has just come into flower. Another sign of spring. 😊💕

From the archives. On a damp morning. A cheefully friendly pair, with flowers and splendid red stockings, from the 14th Century Luttrell Psalter.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. All the snow has gone. Looking south eastward with the Mavern Hills just showing faintly in the middle distance.

Excellent News for ebook Readers in the UK. Still On Offer for a limited time: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p. Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Can his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason? amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...

On this day 19th February 1408 the battle of Bramham Moor. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, returned from exile in Scotland with promises of support in the north from Sir Thomas Rokeby. It was a trap. He was killed on the battlefield, beheaded, his head exhibited on London Bridge.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. We have snow but fast disappearing.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. These are an early delight in an unkempt corner of the garden. Woodpeckers drumming in all directions yesterday.

On this day 17th February 1461 the 2nd Battle of St Albans, a victory for Queen Margaret and the Lancastrians when the Earl of Warwick, outnumbered, retreated. Warwick's prisoner King Henry VI was discovered, by tradition, sitting under a tree, and restored to Margaret's care.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another cloudless blue sky. Woodpeckers and goldfinches joining the usual cohorts on the bird feeders.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Another splendid start to the day but it may not last. Looking good over towards Powys.

Today or yesterday or any other day at this time in February 1400 King Richard II, now deposed and imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, died. It was said from starvation or suicide. I doubt it was self-inflicted. His death was far too valuable an event for his cousin Henry IV.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A Valentine camellia picked for me yesterday from the garden. Perfect!😊💕

First Valentine. Written by Margery Brews to John Paston III in 1477. To my right well-beloved Valentine. ‘If you love me, as I trust verily you do, you will not leave me therefore. My heart bids me ever more to love you, truly over all earthly thing.’

What better way to mark Valentine's Day, than with the first 15th Century Valentine. Sent by Margery Brews, daughter of Sir Thomas Brews, Norfolk knight, to John Paston III. Enjoy the whole story of the Paston-Brews letter here and in A Marriage of Fortune. www.anneobrienbooks.com/a-fifteenth-...

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The sun just appearing behind the oaks in a cloudless sky. Perfect!

On This Day 12th February (or possibly 13th) 1371 was born Elizabeth Mortimer at Usk Castle. Wife of Sir Henry (Hotspur) Percy, and then of Thomas, Lord Camoys. Image of her on her tomb with Lord Camoys at Trotton in Sussex. Splendid headgear.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The golden witch hazel in glorious full flower. Much earlier than past years.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Snowdrops still rampaging through the shrubbery. A blessing on another grey day.

The beautiful little Volka Chapel in the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Kingsland where by tradition prayers are still said for those who died on the battle field at Mortimer's Cross close by in 1461. A quiet 14th Century church in the Welsh Marches well worth a visit.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Still rain and gloom but here is the first camellia to open up in a glorious splash of colour .

The window in Winchester Cathedral to mark the marriage of King Henry IV to Joanna of Navarre, Duchess of Brittany in February 1403. Henry on one side, Joanna on the other, the miracle of turning water into wine in the centre.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A hint of sunshine and no rain. Miraculous!

On This Day 7th February 1403 King Henry IV married Joanna of Navarre in Winchester Cathedral in the newly rebuilt nave. The ceremony was conducted by Henry's half-brother, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln, since the Bishop of Winchester, was too ill. This is magnificent Winchester Cathedral.

Excellent News for ebook Readers in the UK. On Offer: A Court of Betrayal for only 99p. Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, begins his campaign for power. Will his wife Johane de Geneville survive the treason? www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...

On This Day 6th February 1381 or yesterday or a day thereabouts Henry Bolingbroke, later to be crowned Henry IV married Mary de Bohun who would be the mother of his 6 children. This delightful little image of Mary comes from the Psalter created to mark the occasion of their marriage.