1941: Following a Ministry of Home Security circular on the carrying of gas masks, a Mrs Mellows organised four lectures aimed principally at housewives of active servicemen, on how to handle a gas situation. The second talk was held on this day. Each lecture covered: latest information about gas attacks; first aid for gas casualties; how to protect yourself and dealing with incendiary bombs and fires. All lectures were very well attended. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
On the 22nd of August 1485, Henry Tudor beat King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, Richard had been king for only two years. This was the last battle of the War of the Roses, and brought to an end Plantagenet rule of England. Henry Tudor became Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch.
Richard III's body was recently found in a car park in Leicester, where he had been buried after the battle. Analysis of his body showed that he did have a curvature of the spine (scoliosis) which would have meant that his right shoulder was higher than the left, though with a good tailor and custom armour this would not have been obvious.
His body also revealed 11 injuries occurring around time of death including two injuries at the base of his skull that are likely to have been fatal. His remains also show a penetrating injury to his pelvis where a weapon must have been thrust from behind, entering the right buttock and penetrating right through the body. This type of injury would be hard to do to an armoured body, so was likely to have occurred after death as a humiliation.
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Images:
1. Earliest surviving portrait of Richard III C. 1520, owned by the Society of Apothecaries (Public Domain)
2. Portrait of the young Henry VII, Musee Calvert, Avignon (Public Domain)
Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III of England was born at Fotheringhay Castle. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. He was the supposed killer of 'The Princes in the Tower', his nephews Edward and Richard, the sons of his brother King Edward IV, and was portrayed as a villain in William Shakespeare's play 'Richard III'.
He died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 beaten by Henry Tudor, Henry VII, the first of the Tudor dynasty, so ending the War of the Roses.
In 2012 Richard III's body was found buried under a car park in Leicester and was re-interred in Leicester Cathedral. Analysis of his body showed that, as legend reported, he did have a curvature of the spine (scoliosis) which would have meant that his right shoulder was higher than the left, though with a good tailor and custom armour this would not have been obvious.
The abbey and town were sacked by a Lancastrian army led by Queen Margaret of Anjou during the Wars of the Roses. The abbey was in the orbit of Fotheringhay Castle, the main seat of the House of York. Both the future Edward IV and Richard III would have visited the monastery as children. Royal visitors to Peterborough Abbey were very common – as well as those mentioned above they have included: Henry III in 1268, Edward I in 1302, Edward II in 1314 (twice), Edward III in 1326, then annually 1332-6, Henry IV in 1392 & 1394, Henry VI in 1452 and Henry VII in 1486.
On the 22nd of August 1485, Henry Tudor beat King Richard III at the Bat…
Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III of England was born at Fotherin…
The abbey and town were sacked by a Lancastrian army led by Queen Margar…