Episodes

  • How the Tudors Slept: Rituals, Remedies, and Nighttime Beliefs

    How the Tudors Slept: Rituals, Remedies, and Nighttime Beliefs
    Jun 7 2025
    Tossing and turning at night? The Tudors may have had the answer. In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of Tudor sleep—where bedtime wasn’t just about rest, but about health, virtue, and even the soul. From feather mattresses and “sleep tight” rope beds to nighttime prayers, herbal pouches, and warm possets, sleep in Tudor England was a carefully managed ritual. Did you know Tudors often had a first sleep and second sleep, waking in between to read, pray, or talk quietly by candlelight? Or that the wrong sleeping position could disrupt your digestion—or invite nightmares? Join me as I explore what the Tudors believed about sleep, how they prepared for bed, the beds they slept in, and how their nightly habits could still teach us something today. Whether you're a history lover or a fellow night owl—this one’s for you. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more glimpses into daily life in Tudor England. Sleep tight! Here's a recipe for a Tudor posset made from eggs, milk, ale and cinnamon and ginger, which could also be infused with rose or lemonbalm - http://www.historiesofsleep.com/2017/06/27/little-moreton-halls-sleep-remedies/ Further reading: Sleep in Early Modern England – Sasha Handley https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall/features/how-we-used-to-sleep
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    7 mins
  • Maria de Salinas - The Loyal Friend Who Defied a King

    Maria de Salinas - The Loyal Friend Who Defied a King
    Jun 4 2025
    On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1516, Maria de Salinas married Lord Willoughby of Eresby. But this Spanish noblewoman would be remembered not for her marriage, but for her fierce loyalty to Queen Catherine of Aragon. Maria’s story is one of deep friendship, political influence, and unwavering devotion. She followed Catherine from Spain to England, stood by her through triumph and tragedy, and, in the end, defied royal orders to be with her dying friend. In 1536, when Catherine was banished and gravely ill at Kimbolton Castle, Maria risked everything. She rode through a bitter winter storm, suffered a riding accident, and still pushed on—claiming to have lost her permission papers, just to reach Catherine’s side. She arrived just in time. The queen died the next day. Join me as I explore the extraordinary life and character of Maria de Salinas—friend, mother, fighter, and one of the most loyal women in Tudor history. #MariaDeSalinas #CatherineOfAragon #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #WomenInHistory #TudorCourt #TudorQueens #RealFriendship #TudorEngland #SpanishNoblewoman #KimboltonCastle #LoyaltyAndLove #HistoricalWomen #TudorDrama #AnneBoleynFiles
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    6 mins
  • Anne Boleyn Crowned Queen - A Day of Splendour and Symbolism

    Anne Boleyn Crowned Queen - A Day of Splendour and Symbolism
    May 31 2025

    On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her triumph. After six years of struggle, scandal, and seismic political and religious change, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Dressed in purple velvet, barefoot and crowned with the Crown of St Edward—a crown usually reserved for monarchs—Anne processed through a sea of blue cloth, surrounded by nobles, clergy, and the hopes of a dynasty. This wasn’t just a coronation. It was a carefully orchestrated show of legitimacy, power, and divine approval. Join me as I take you through every detail of this extraordinary day—from the riverside arrivals and the grand abbey ceremony to the 80-dish banquet and Anne’s moment of glory beneath a cloth of estate… all while the king watched from the shadows. This was Anne Boleyn at her height. Her triumph. Her crowning moment. Listen now to relive the grandeur of 1st June 1533. #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #AnneBoleynCoronation #HenryVIII #TudorDynasty #WestminsterAbbey #CrownOfStEdward #HistoryLovers #BritishMonarchy #HistoricalReenactment #WomenInHistory #RoyalCoronation
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    4 mins
  • Tudor Timekeeping: Bells, Clocks, and a Bit of Bling

    Tudor Timekeeping: Bells, Clocks, and a Bit of Bling
    May 26 2025
    Ever wondered how people in the Tudor period told the time—long before smartphones or wristwatches? In this video, I explore the fascinating ways our medieval and Tudor ancestors kept track of their day. From monastery bells marking the canonical hours to the rise of mechanical town clocks in the 14th century, Tudor timekeeping was far more advanced than you might expect. We’ll look at sundials, water clocks, astrolabes, and even the incredible astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace. And yes—there were watches in Tudor England! Anne Boleyn owned one, and Elizabeth I had several, including a gift from Robert Dudley. Plus, I’ll share why you sometimes hear the chimes of my village clock tower in the background of my videos—and how that links us back to the soundscape of the past. Step back in time with me to discover how the Tudors measured their hours—and why timekeeping was as much about bells, beauty, and status as practicality. #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #ElizabethI #TudorTechnology #Timekeeping #MedievalHistory #TudorLife #OnThisDay #TudorEngland #HamptonCourt #HistoricalClocks #HistoryNerd Links: Henry VIII portrait - https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw03080/King-Henry-VIII-King-Henry-VII Anne Boleyn clock - https://www.rct.uk/collection/30018/anne-boleyn-clock and https://strawberryhillhouseblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/362/ Hampton Court - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_astronomical_clock Early Mechanical Clocks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock#Early_mechanical_clocks

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    Claire Ridgway Best-selling author, historian, speaker, YouTuber and founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society websites. https://linktr.ee/claireridgway claireridgway.com www.tudorsociety.com www.theanneboleynfiles.com
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    5 mins
  • The Pygmy and Beagle: Robert Cecil, the Power behind Two Thrones

    The Pygmy and Beagle: Robert Cecil, the Power behind Two Thrones
    May 23 2025

    On 24th May 1612, one of the most powerful men of the Elizabethan and early Stuart courts—Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury—died on his way home from taking the waters at Bath. He was just 48, but his political career was nothing short of extraordinary. The son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil overcame physical disability, courtly mockery, and fierce political rivalries to become Secretary of State, Lord High Treasurer, and a trusted advisor to both Elizabeth I and James I. From helping bring down the Earl of Essex to secretly securing James VI’s smooth succession, Cecil shaped the very future of the English monarchy. In this podcast, we explore his remarkable life, his rise to power, his role in uncovering the Gunpowder Plot, and his legacy—one that helped bridge the Tudor and Stuart dynasties. Listen now to discover the story of the man who proved brains could beat brawn at the heart of royal power. #RobertCecil #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #ElizabethanEra #JamesI #GunpowderPlot #TudorToStuart #OnThisDay #BritishHistory #HatfieldHouse #CecilFamily #SecretaryOfState #TudorPolitics
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    5 mins
  • 19 May 1536: The Execution of Anne Boleyn - A Queen's Last Moments

    19 May 1536: The Execution of Anne Boleyn - A Queen's Last Moments
    May 18 2025
    In the early hours of 19th May 1536, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was woken with chilling news—his friend Alexander Alesius had dreamt of Anne Boleyn’s severed neck. He had no idea that Anne was due to be executed that very morning… In this moving video, we trace Anne Boleyn’s final hours: from her quiet early morning Mass and her careful choice of crimson and ermine attire, to her composed speech on the scaffold and the swift stroke of the Calais executioner's sword. We explore eyewitness accounts, the reactions of those present, and the shocking speed with which Henry VIII moved on—issuing a marriage dispensation for Jane Seymour on the very day Anne was buried. Anne Boleyn’s fall was fast and brutal, yet her legacy lived on in her daughter, Elizabeth I—England’s Gloriana. Watch now to witness the last moments of one of history’s most compelling queens. #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #HenryVIII #ElizabethI #TudorQueens #AnneBoleynExecution #TudorDynasty #BritishHistory #RoyalHistory
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    7 mins
  • What Really Made a Tudor Marriage?

    What Really Made a Tudor Marriage?
    May 16 2025
    Did you need a priest to be married in Tudor England? A church? Witnesses? The truth might surprise you. In the 16th century, a simple exchange of vows—followed by consummation—could be enough to make a marriage fully legal. In this video, we explore the fascinating (and often confusing) rules around marriage in Tudor times. From secret unions to royal annulments, handfasting to public ceremonies, find out how couples—rich and poor—sealed their unions, and how these customs led to scandal, bigamy, and disputed inheritances. Discover what counted, what didn’t, and how Henry VIII used these rules to his advantage. #TudorMarriage #TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #HenryVIII #AnneOfCleves #CatherineHoward #LadyKatherineGrey #16thCentury #HistoryYouTube #MarriageCustoms #Handfasting #TudorScandals #ClaireRidgway #HistoricalMarriage #MedievalMarriage #RoyalHistory #WomenInHistory
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    5 mins
  • Anne of Denmark: The Forgotten Queen?

    Anne of Denmark: The Forgotten Queen?
    May 12 2025
    On this day in history, 13th May 1619, Westminster Abbey hosted a grand and costly funeral for a queen consort who is often overshadowed in British royal history. But who was Anne of Denmark? What role did she really play at the courts of Scotland and England—and why did her relationship with King James sour so drastically in her final years? In this podcast, I explore the intriguing life, cultural impact, and overlooked legacy of Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I of England (James VI of Scotland). From dramatic court disputes and artistic patronage to her mysterious estrangement from the king, Anne’s story is full of surprises. Could she be one of the most underrated queen consorts in British history? Listen now to uncover the truth behind this fascinating royal figure. #AnneOfDenmark #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #ForgottenQueens #WomenInHistory #RoyalHistory #OnThisDay #JamesI #WestminsterAbbey #HistoricalMysteries #BritishMonarchy #HistoryYouTube #ClaireRidgway #QueenConsort #EarlyModernHistory
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    7 mins
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