On This Day 7th June 1394 died Anne of Bohemia, wife of King Richard II, at 28 years, possibly from plague. Richard said to be so grief-stricken that he had the palace at Sheen where she died demolished. Gilt bronze effigies on the tomb of Anne and Richard in Westminster Abbey

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Fine but overall grey. Quiet and green in the lane.

On 6th June 1474, Parliament passed an Act to officially declare Anne Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick, legally dead, so that her massive Beauchamp-Neville inheritance could be seized and divided between her two daughters and their royal husbands, Clarence and Gloucester.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. This says it all. The perfect June day.

On this day 5th June (or thereabouts) 1394 the death of Mary de Bohun, first wife of Henry Bolingbroke later King Henry IV and the mother of his 6 children. A charming little image of Mary shown in the Psalter made for her and Henry probably on the occasion of their marriage.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. More foxgloves that managed to survive the wind and the rain.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The first of the year. Who doesn’t love sweet peas?

On This Day 3rd June 1397 died William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury. His first wife Joan of Kent, the marriage annulled to allow her to return to her first husband Thomas Holland. Montague died without a direct heir, his son tragically killed in a tournament between Montagu father and son.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Not sure how this peony managed to survive Monday’s deluge but with a little help it’s still standing up for me to enjoy.

Another lovely June Calendar Page from the Book of Hours of Joanna of Castile, 1500, courtesy of the British Library. Working in the fields almost at an end, the hay being moved to a hayloft in the distance. A tankard of ale is waiting bottom right for necessary refreshment.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Yesterday’s evening downpour. Just about to venture out to see the damage to the roses.

Celebrating the first day of June with another of the splendid images from the early 15th century Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Working in the fields outside Paris with the Palais de la Cité and the Sainte-Chapelle in the distance.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The rambling rector is now rambling. Magnificent!

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On this day 31st May 1495 died Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, at Berkhamsted Castle, aged 80 years, buried beside her husband Richard Duke of York at Fotheringhay. Queen Elizabeth, horrified to see the later disrepair, ordered a new tomb to be constructed for her ancestors next to the altar.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A wild rose climbing over the hedge into the garden from the lane. It is beautiful and quite welcome.

On this day May 30th 1445 Margaret of Anjou was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey. At just 15 years old, she was one of the youngest queen consorts in English history . Read more about her! The Queen and the Countess on offer for 99p in UK. www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Counte...

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. All is quiet and green. All is quiet that is except for the goldfinches twittering in the sycamore.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches.

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Dropped into Hay Festival yesterday, just down the road for me, and early before the crowds and the heat took over. Good to see people of all ages buying books and reading in the sunshine.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. More foxgloves.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Layers of mist but the heat is building. Off to Hay Festival.

On this day May 26th 1465 Elizabeth Woodville was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey a year after her clandestine marriage to King Edward IV. As was tradition, he did not attend the ceremony. It was followed by a lavish feast and tournament.

Since it's even hotter today than yesterday, here's another cool and shady picture. Yesterday Hereford Cathedral crypt. Today the Geat Hall of Stokesay Castle. Both perfect for a visit on a hot day.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. And the magnificent foxgloves are beginning to flower.

Too hot for me today. I'm hiding inside. But here's a splendidly dark and cool view of the crypt in Hereford Cathedral.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Already warm. This will be better later in the day when some shade creeps in. The rather twee lady in the shrubbery doesn’t care.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Very early and still cool but the blackbirds are singing. Thick mist in the distant valley and long shadows from the oaks.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches and from the locals.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The lupins looking suitably stately and enjoying the calm weather.

Yesterday 20th May (which I missed) was World Bee Day to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem. Still worth celebrating today, with this splendid medieval picture of very large bees and a lovely bee skip made from coilded grass cords.

Definitely warmer but still gloom and no sunshine. So here's a view of the lovely black and white New Inn at Pembridge in the sun to cheer us up.

Thank you so much for the shout for The Queen and the Countess, Tony. Delighted for a mention at The Writing Desk.

From the Archives on a sunny day to make up for today's damp and gloom. Stokesay Castle. The roof line heading towards the church and the later 17th century gatehouse, taken from the tower. Always an impressive visit.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. It’s one of these mornings with threats of thunderstorms later. Good writing weather. 😊☔️

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A busy home on the sycamore tree for a pair of great tits. They use it every year.

A reconstruction of what Owain Glyn Dwr's Palace of Sycarth may have looked like. An impressive home but desroyed by Prince Henry 15th May 1403.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Sun and long shadows from the oaks before the rain arrives .

On 15th May 1403 Prince Henry wrote to his father that he had destroyed the 'principal mansion' of Owain Glyn Dwr at Sycharth, a fine place with two timbered halls surrounded by outbuildings. All that is left of mighty Sycarth today. Welsh poet Iolo Goch: www.owain-glyndwr.wales/pdf_files/Io...

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Sunrise over the orchards. A pair of robins already out and about with a nest of youngsters.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The first of the Rambling Rector flowers. Mice are eating my newly planted peas!

Heard a cuckoo again this morning but briefly. I still like this medieval cuckoo. Is this image from the Luttrell Psalter? I'm not sure and I cannot find it elsewhere.

From the Archives. Medieval Women's Work (although they did other work too such as blacksmithing). Here weaving, spinning and carding. And always wear your crown when weaving.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A bright start but I don’t trust the heavy showers after yesterday’s deluges. All the blossom in the orchards is now over.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A very damp lane although the sun keeps appearing too.

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Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A perfect start and tempting chairs for a coffee break.

From the Archives This is Blanche Mortimer, Lady Grandison, probably the youngest daughter of Roger Mortimer and Joan de Geneville, who lies serenely here at rest on her tomb in Much Marcle in Herefordshire. She died in 1347. What a superb effigy. What Impeccable veiling.

Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Very grey this morning but here’s the soft purple of the wisteria glowing in yesterday’s sunshine. Good for the soul.