Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 17th April 1874 [his father] William Lever 1st Viscount Leverhulme (age 22) and [his mother] Elizabeth Ellen Hulme Lady Lever (age 23) were married.
On 25th March 1888 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme was born to [his father] William Lever 1st Viscount Leverhulme (age 36) and [his mother] Elizabeth Ellen Hulme Lady Lever (age 37).
On 13th April 1912 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 24) and Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme (age 25) were married.
On 24th July 1913 [his mother] Elizabeth Ellen Hulme Lady Lever (age 62) died. She was buried at Christ Church, Port Sunlight [Map].
On 1st July 1915 [his son] Philip Lever 3rd Viscount Leverhulme was born to William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 27).
On 7th May 1925 [his father] William Lever 1st Viscount Leverhulme (age 73) died. He was buried at Christ Church, Port Sunlight [Map]. His son William (age 37) succeeded 2nd Viscount Leverhulme of the Western Isles, 2nd Baron Leverhulme of Bolton le Moors in Lancashire, 2nd Baronet Lever of Thornton Manor in Cheshire. [his wife] Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme (age 38) by marriage Viscountess Leverhulme of the Western Isles.
Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme: On 6th July 1886 she was born to Bryce Smith. On 13th April 1912 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme and she were married. In 1936 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme and Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme were divorced. On 30th August 1987 she died.
1929. "Diana" by Gilbert Bayes (age 56). Puchased by William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 40). Presented to the Lady Lever Art Gallery [Map] in memory of his friend the architect Segar Segar-Owen who helped design the Lady Lever Art Gallery [Map].
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1936 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 47) and Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme (age 49) were divorced.
On 20th January 1937 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 48) and Winifred Agnes Lloyd Viscountess Leverhulme (age 37) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Leverhulme of the Western Isles.
On 27th May 1949 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme (age 61) died. He was buried at Christ Church, Port Sunlight [Map]. His son Philip (age 33) succeeded 3rd Viscount Leverhulme of the Western Isles, 3rd Baron Leverhulme of Bolton le Moors in Lancashire, 3rd Baronet Lever of Thornton Manor in Cheshire.
Philip Lever 3rd Viscount Leverhulme: On 1st July 1915 he was born to William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme. In 1988 he was appointed 968th Knight of the Garter. On 4th July 2000 he died. Viscount Leverhulme of the Western Isles, Baron Leverhulme of Bolton le Moors in Lancashire, Baronet Lever of Thornton Manor in Cheshire extinct.
On 19th February 1966 [his former wife] Winifred Agnes Lloyd Viscountess Leverhulme (age 66) died. She was buried at Christ Church, Port Sunlight [Map].
Winifred Agnes Lloyd Viscountess Leverhulme: On 14th July 1899 she was born. On 20th January 1937 William Lever 2nd Viscount Leverhulme and she were married. She by marriage Viscountess Leverhulme of the Western Isles.
On 30th August 1987 [his former wife] Marion Beatrice Smith Viscountess Leverhulme died.