Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Text this colour are links that disabled for Guests.
Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page.
Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Kinnersley, Herefordshire is in Herefordshire.
Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire is also in Castles in Herefordshire.
Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map] was probably first constructed between 1100 and 1135 during the reign of King Henry I. It was subsequently rebuilt as an Elizabethan house. That house has been subject to many restorations.
In or before 1617 Francis Smallman (age 51) purchased Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map] from the son of Roger Vaughan.
On 7th September 1633 Francis Smallman (age 68) died. He was buried at St James' Church, Kinnersley [Map] on 9th September 1633. He had made his will on 20th July 1633 leaving his only daughter a portion of £1,000. His son William Smallman of Kinnersley Castle (age 18) inherited Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map].
In 1643 William Smallman of Kinnersley Castle (age 28) died. Lucy Smallman and her husband James Pytts (age 16) inherited Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map].
Around 1801 Leonard Parkinson (age 57) purchased Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map].
On 11th July 1817 Leonard Parkinson (age 73) died at Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map]. His will, proved 10th February 1818, rehearsed the marriage settlement of his son Richard (age 35) with Lucy Lechmere under which he [the testator] had settled an annuity of £750 p.a. on the couple secured on his estates in Herefordshire, and changed the underlying package of security by pledging the lands, including tenanted farms, in Herefordshire: he entailed the underlying lands to Richard and his heirs and then to his [the testator's] children starting with his son Leonard junior. He left Kinnersley Castle in trust for the benefit of his daughter Mary Elizabeth Clarke; and the rest of his British lands to his son Leonard.
In 1872 George Frederick Bodley (age 44) and Minna Reavely were married at Kinnersley Castle, Herefordshire [Map].
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.