😊

The surviving gateway to Reading Abbey, which divided the monks’ private area from the more public part of this once magnificent religious house. The last Abbot, Hugh Cook, was hanged drawn and quartered close to here in 1539 after objecting to the closure of the abbey #henryviii #readingabbey #abbeyruins #dissolution

Reading Abbey selfie 😆 #readingabbey #abbeyruins #dissolution #henryi #medieval #medievalking

The enormous Chapter House at Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, clearly demonstrate the house’s wealth. It would once have been lavishly decorated and was the place where the monks assembled each day. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 #readingabbey #abbeyruins #disssolution #henryviii

The very substantial surviving ruins of Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, give a good sense of its importance. A parliament was held there during the reign of Henry VI. John of Gaunt also married his first wife Blanche of Lancaster there in 1359 #readingabbey #reading #kinghenry #henryi #henryviii #dissolutionofthemonasteries

I am really looking forward to speaking at the Wars of the Roses online festival on She Wolves, Upstarts and Cipher: Queenship in the Wars of the Roses. There’s a great line up of historians with @garethrussell1 @NathenAmin @MattLewisAuthor @JulesHumphrys @euanroger and me 😀 @UKHistoryTours Tickets are available here:

A slightly soggy visit to the ruins of Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in the early 12C and dissolved by his descendant Henry VIII in the 16thC. Henry I is probably still buried beneath the ruins #readingabbey #reading #henryi #henryviii

@begynnynge Absolutely. This man is not wearing any underpants in the original 😆

This deserves a repost. The museum and abbey ruins are definitely worth a day trip.

A memorial cross erected at the start of the 20thC on the site of the great abbey church at Reading, which was dissolved by Henry VIII. The cross commemorates Henry I, who died in Normandy in 1135 (apparently from a surfeit of lampreys) and was buried at Reading in the abbey he founded. Henry’s grave remains undiscovered #readingabbey #reading #henryi #medieval #henryviii

@Jawgenius Probably, it’s pretty fabulous. I think it was sold to Reading though, so I doubt they would give it back.

@Little_Rebel8 It’s not even remotely a modern concept sadly

@militaryhistori It’s a wonderful book. Very much my go-to for the Bayeux Tapestry and its long and fascinating history.

RT @militaryhistori: The best book on the tapestry is that by the late Carola Hicks

@HKW1981 It’s fabulous. I’ve been wanting to visit for a while! Love the biscuits too 😆

@SuzanneRaine2 @murielzagha They did indeed.

@AndrewPaulWood They were given photographs of the original by the V&A

@MercerCait @PosyHill1 That’s lovely (although your poor friend!)

@PosyHill1 Those are fabulous, I’m very impressed!

An attempt to replace the missing end of the Bayeux Tapestry by Jan Messent, on display in Reading Museum, which holds the full scale replica. #readingmuseum #battlwofhastings #readingtapestry

@badbadger86 😆 my personal favourite is the little figure in the margin who was given a pair of stripy underpants in the Victorian copy 😆