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Plate 2.11 of Vetusta Monumenta depicts Sandal Castle as it appeared in the sixteenth century. Engraving by George Vertue after a drawing originally produced for a survey of the properties of the Duchy of Lancaster conducted by the Chancellor of the Duchy, Ambrose Cave, in 1561

Battle of Wakefield

The Battle of Wakefield is commonly said to have been fought on 30 December 1460 outside the Duke of York’s castle at Sandal, Wakefield. The Battle was hugely consequential, resulting in the deaths of Richard… 

The Garden of Earthly Delights. Hieronymus Bosch,. 1490-1500

15th Century depictions of Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell, along with the Last Judgement and Weighing of Souls, feature heavily in English medieval wall art within Cathedrals and Churches. As the 15th century progressed, the style of depiction of these religious… 

Doom Painting at St. Thomas' Church, Salisbury

Doom Paintings in Medieval English Churches

Doom Paintings were a common feature within medieval churches. These images depict the Last Judgement, with the outcomes of Heaven or Hell being visualised very clearly. Heaven is bright, enticing, wonderful, whereas Hell is rather… 

Crucifixion. Wall painting in Dorchester Abbey

Medieval depictions of the Crucifixion

The Cruxificion of Jesus Christ features in many wall paintings in medieval churches and is a key element of illustrated religious manuscripts. The style of portrayal has altered greatly over time and location. As with… 

Detail from a medieval mural in the church of St Nicholas in Burgos. It shows St Michael, whose feast is today (29 September) weighing the souls of the dead.

Weighing the Soul – Medieval Artwork in Churches

Images of St. Michael weighing the souls in purgatory were used in many medieval churches. The image is designed to act as a warning to worshippers. It illustrates the Archangel Michael weighing souls in purgatory,… 

Beaulieu Abbey

Countess of Warwick takes flight to Beaulieu

In 1471 Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick felt the need to take refuge in Beaulieu Abbey in the New Forest. Her plans to meet her daughter and the Lancastrian royal family had been thrown into… 

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland. Photo by Matt Brown

Lancastrian forces in the North East

Following the Battle of Towton the defeated Lancastrians established a foothold in the North East. Based largely in Castles held by the Percy family, such as Alnwick, Bamburgh, and Dunstanburgh, they were able to hold… 

Intervention in the Neville-Percy feud

Intervention in the Neville-Percy feud was attempted several times. Each sought to bring about a peaceful resolution to tension in the north east. Some were via arbitration, others direct orders. On 8 October 1453 the…