Day 4

 Day 4

We left after breakfast for Kiplin Hall. On the way, Tracy Borman discussed the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. The interesting note was that the King remarried the day Cromwell dies. Henry soon realized what he had lost.

Kiplin Hall is the county seat of George Calvert, the Founder of Maryland and 1^st Lord Baltimore. The Hall is now shown as a Victorian home with belongings of its previous owners. There is a surviving WWII Kitchen and bath from when the RAF requisitioned the Estate. All Creatures Great and Small was filmed here.

We had some rain this day but did fine. We had lunch provided by the cafe and then left for Raby Castle.

It one of the most impressive intact castles in the North of England. Built in the 14^th century by the Neville family, and birthplace of Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV and Richar III. It was the scene of the plotting of the north, and a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil war.

The old kitchen

The Chapel

The Nevilles

Raby Castle

Cricket pitch

Michael Jones had talked to us on the bus about Cecily Neville.  Cecily Neville (3 May 1415 – 31 May 1495) was an English noblewoman, the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), and the mother of two Kings of England—Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville was known as "the Rose of Raby", because she was born at Raby Castle in Durham, and "Proud Cis", because of her pride and a temper that went with it, although she was also known for her piety. She herself signed her name "Cecylle".

Cecily's husband, the Duke of York, was the leading contender for the throne of England from the House of York during the period of the Wars of the Roses until his death in 1460. Their son Edward actually assumed the throne as Edward IV in 1461, after the deposition of King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster. The Duchess of York thus narrowly missed becoming queen consort of England.^[1]

We then departed for St Marys Church, Staindrop. The Church of England parish church of St Mary (formerly dedicated to St. Gregory) is Anglo-Saxon. The first church on the site is recorded as having been built in the 8th century (771AD) and the church has been extended and remodelled across the centuries. The church contains monuments including effigies of members of the Neville family, it underwent restoration around 1849.^[14][15] A Congregational chapel also stood from 1868 until the 1970s.^[16]

All pictures of St. Mary's Church

Alison discussed Joan Beaufort also.

Joan Beaufort was a daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, a legitimised son of John of Gaunt by his mistress (and later third wife) Katherine Swynford.^[5] She was born in 1404.^[6] Joan's mother was Margaret Holland,^[7] the granddaughter of Joan of Kent (wife of Edward the Black Prince) from her earlier marriage to Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent. Joan was also a half-niece of King Henry IV of England, first cousin once removed of Richard II, and great-granddaughter of Edward III. Her uncle, Henry Beaufort, was a cardinal and Chancellor of England.^[5]

King James I of Scotland met Joan during his time as a prisoner in England, and knew her from at least 1420.^[7] The marriage  was at least partially political, as their marriage was part of the agreement for his release from captivity^[11] under the Treaty of London (4 December 1423).^[12] From an English perspective an alliance with the Beauforts was meant to establish Scotland's alliance with the English, rather than the French.^[7] Negotiations resulted in Joan's dowry of 10,000 marks being subtracted from James's substantial ransom.^[13]

The royal couple had eight children, including the future James II, and Margaret of Scotland, future spouse of Louis XI of France.^[7] 

The last talk of the day was by Julian Humphreys on the revolt of the northern earls.

The rebellion was led by Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, and Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland. In November 1569 Westmorland and Northumberland occupied Durham.  From Durham, the rebels marched south to Bramham Moor, while Elizabeth struggled to raise forces sufficient to confront them. But, hearing of a large force being raised by the Earl of Sussex, the rebels abandoned plans to besiege York, and captured Barnard Castle instead. They proceeded to Clifford Moor but found little popular support. Sussex marched out from York on 13 December 1569 with 10,000 men against the rebels' 6,000,^[5] and was followed by 12,000 men under Baron Clinton. The rebel earls retreated northward and finally dispersed their forces, fleeing into Scotland.

The view from the pub. Can't get much closer.

Returned to our hotel. Lynn, Jessica and I went to a pub that had a great view of the Minster. And it was great! I had a strawberry cider and was glad I only had one the next morning!

The gates of York