Hosting Henry VIII, West Horsley Place, July 2025
A fantastic weekend at West Horsley Place The event recreated the visit of Henry VIII in 1533 when he stayed with his friend and cousin, Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, and Exeter's marchioness, Gertrude Blount,
I had a cameo role as Elizabeth Barton, the Holy Maid of Kent. Barton had become widely-known for her religious prophesies. Originally patronised by the king when she prophesied that, if he left his wife, Katharine of Aragon, for Anne Boleyn, he would die within the year, Henry, unsurprisingly, turned against her. See the video clip here
After a speedy costume change, I joined my colleagues from The Tudor Players and The Companye of Merrye Folke. We dined Tudor fashion on wet suckets and cheesy farts before watching the amazing jousting.
New book ‘1000 Tudor People’ out now
Monarchs and magicians, politicians and philosophers, kings, criminals, musicians, and gardeners: learn about one thousand men and women from all walks of life who flourished during the Tudor period.
