Alastair Dunn
@alastairdunn
European | Edinburgh-born | Historian of the Middle Ages | Northern Renaissance | Romanesque sculpture | Peasants’ Revolt | victory to Ukraine
Boxgrove Priory, resting place of Philippa Mortimer, great granddaughter of Edward III, successively countess of Pembroke, countess of Arundel and Lady Poynings, dying without surviving issue aged only 24 in 1400. A witness from within the elite to the tyranny and fall of Richard II.
I found this in my father’s papers. He was a journalist on #TheDailyNation in 1964. Any leads welcome. #Tanzania
The fine earthworks at Castle Bytham, all that remains of impressive Norman and Angevin works.
The Saxon and Romanesque features at All Saints, Earls Barton, are such a joy.
#onthisday in 1381 the leaders of the Peasants’ Revolt extracted concessions from Richard II at #MileEnd. This was the high point of the revolt in the southeast. Rebels elsewhere, such as in St Albans, were influenced by the news from London. The former abbey gatehouse witnessed the uprising there.
The story of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in St Albans is the most interesting outside London. Decades of conflict between the town and Abbey were catalysed by the crisis of 1381. Below, Abbot de la Mare and the gatehouse attacked by the 1381 rebels. #peasantsrevolt.
The 351st Heavy Bombardment Group memorial is well maintained on a fragment of the old Polebrook main runway. These men gave so much. 175 planes lost from the units here and 303 German aircraft accounted for. Hard to imagine the scenes in the skies over occupied Europe.
By coincidence I stopped here on the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The immense courage of these young men is humbling. So many gave their lives a very long way from home. #401stbombardmentgroup
Beautiful spring day in the Nene valley. Richard, duke of York’s tower at Fotheringhay Church in the distance.
Love the Romanesque nave of the former abbey church at Peterborough Cathedral.
The Norman Chancel arch at St Peter’s Tickencote is spectacular for such a small church.
Having loved ‘The Road’ and ‘The Border Trilogy’, I am now starting ‘Blood Meridian.’ McCarthy got me reading fiction again after a long break.
Returning to Lubeck after 21 years. It’s still a jewel but the Hanse Museum in its current form is extraordinary. They have done with data what The Mary Rose museum has done with artefacts. It’s extraordinary.
All that remains of Simon de Senlis’ motte and bailey castle at Fotheringhay, later rebuilt as a favourite residence of the dukes of York; birthplace of Richard III 1452. Mary Queen of Scots executed here Feb 1587. I wonder if the weather was bleak like today.
Layers of history at Jimena de La Frontera - Roman, Moorish and Christian.
I have bought ‘On Freedom’ because I greatly enjoy Tim Snyder’s writing but also because, in a very small way,I want to support his mission.