Claire | October 10, 2013
Last night, I watched the first episode of Helen Castor’s three part series on birth, marriage and death in medieval times and I made notes so that I could share them with those who are unable to get BBC4. It really was an excellent programme. Helen Castor set the scene for the episode by talking […]
Claire | August 26, 2013
On this day in 1533, Queen Anne Boleyn went through one of the rituals associated with childbirth: “taking her chamber”. A Tudor woman usually took to her chamber, or went into confinement, four to six weeks before her due date but Anne took to her chamber on 26th August 1533, less than 2 weeks before […]
Claire | August 26, 2011
On this day in history, 26th August 1533, the ceremony of the Queen’s “taking her chamber” took place at Greenwich Palace. A heavily pregnant Queen Anne Boleyn attended a special mass at the Chapel Royal of Greenwich Palace and then processed, with her ladies, to the Queen’s great chamber. There, the group enjoyed wine and […]
