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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Kew, Surrey is in Surrey.
On 11th July 1818 King William IV of the United Kingdom (age 52) and Queen Adelaide of England (age 25) were married at Kew, Surrey. She by marriage Duchess Clarence and St Andrews. The difference in their ages was 26 years. He the son of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 80).
John Evelyn's Diary. 5th September 1685. I accompanied his Lordship to Windsor (dining by the way at Sir Henry Capel's (age 47) at Kew), where his Ma* (age 51) receiving me with extra ordinary kindnesse, I kiss'd his hand. I told him how. sensible I was of his Ma*s gracious favour to me, that I would endeavour to serve him with all sincerity, diligence, and loyalty, not more out of my duty than inclination. He said he doubted not of it, and was glad he had the opportunity to shew me the kindnesse he had for me. After this came aboundance of greate men to give me joy.
1st June 1759. Kew Bridge [Map] is a bridge over the River Thames. The original bridge was constructed before 1759. The first bridge was built by Robert Tunstall of Brentford who previously owned the ferry on the site. The bridge was inaugurated on 1 June 1759 by the Prince of Wales (age 20) driving over it with his mother (age 39) and a number of other royals, and was opened to the public three days later.
On 22nd September 1789 the second Kew Bridge [Map] was opened by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 51).
1805. Joseph Mallord William Turner (age 29). Kew Bridge [Map] and the River Thames, with Brentford Eyot in the Foreground and Strand-on-Green Seen through the Arches: Low Tide. From the Thames sketchbooks c.1804-14.
1899. Myles Birket Foster (age 73). Kew Bridge [Map] from Strand on the Green.
The current Kew Bridge [Map] was opened on 20th May 1903 by King Edward VII (age 61) and Queen Alexandra (age 58).
John Evelyn's Diary. 27th August 1678. Hence, I went to my worthy friend, Sir Henry Capel (age 40) [at Kew], brother to the Earl of Essex (age 46); it is an old timber-house; but his garden has the choicest fruit of any plantation in England, as he is the most industrious and understanding in it.
On 11th July 1818 Edward Augustus Hanover 1st Duke Kent and Strathearn (age 50) and Marie Luise Victoria Saxe Coburg Gotha Duchess Kent and Strathearn (age 31) were married at Kew Palace Kew, Surrey.
John Evelyn's Diary. 24th March 1688. From thence to Kew, to visit Sir Henry Capel's (age 50), whose orangery and myrtetum are most beautiful and perfectly well kept. He was contriving very high palisadoes of reeds to shade his oranges during the summer, and painting those reeds in oil.
On 11th March 1916 Eliza Amelia Gore Countess Erroll (age 87) died in Royal Cottage Kew, Surrey.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 2nd August 1788 Thomas Gainsborough (age 61) died. He was buried at St Anne's Church Kew, Surrey.
On 17th December 1798 Margaret Somerset aka Burr (age 70) died. She was buried with her husband Thomas Gainsborough at St Anne's Church Kew, Surrey.
On 11th November 1810 Johan Joseph Zoffany (age 77) died. He was buried at St Anne's Church Kew, Surrey.
On 12th June 1866 Francis Teck (age 28) and Princess Mary Adelaide Hanover (age 32) were married at St Anne's Church Kew, Surrey. She the daughter of Adolphus Hanover 1st Duke Cambridge and Princess Augusta Hesse-Kassel Duchess Cambridge (age 68). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland. She a granddaughter of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland.