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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St Andrew's Church, Hartburn is in Hartburn, Northumberland [Map], Churches in Northumberland.
Around 1200 the chancel of St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] was rebuilt and, thereafter, extended in the 13th century.
On 23rd April 1743 John Brown (age 35) and Jane Loraine (age 35) were married at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].
After 17th December 1816. Memorials in St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford (deceased) and Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy (age 8).
Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy: On 14th May 1808 he was born to Henry Fitzroy and Caroline Pigot. On 27th February 1828 Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy died. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map]. On 9th August 1831 Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy and Lucy Sarah Lethbridge were married. On 4th December 1856 Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy and Louisa Emily Macdonald were married.
On 27th February 1828 Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fitzroy (age 19) died. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].
On 14th February 1830 Mary Ann Atkinson died at sea on their passage homewards from India. She was buried in the vault at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] on 16th May 1830.
1834. Monument to Mary Ann Atkinson by Francis Leggatt Chantrey (age 52) at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].
Mary Ann Atkinson: On 1st June 1818 General Thomas Bradford and she were married. On 14th February 1830 she died at sea on their passage homewards from India. She was buried in the vault at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] on 16th May 1830.
On 28th November 1853 General Thomas Bradford (age 75) died. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].
1873. Monument at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hollis Bradford sculpted by Henry Hugh Armstead (age 44).
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In August 1921 a memorial to Captain Willoughby Thornton Wrigley was unveiled at a ceremony at St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map] attended by Colonel E P A Riddell CMG DSO.
Captain Willoughby Thornton Wrigley: On 8th March 1895 he was born to Reverend Daniel Wrigley at Nhill. He was educated at St John's School Leatherhead. On 15th August 1920 Captain Willoughby Thornton Wrigley was killed in action by rebels at Sharaban in Iraq. He was buried at the Baghdad North Gate Cemetery.
2022. Photos of the interior and exterior of St Andrew's Church, Hartburn [Map].
