Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

The Forgotten Spencer Woman with Royal Connections

She was the wife of a Boleyn descendant, the patron of some of Elizabeth I’s greatest minds, and a member of the powerful Spencer dynasty—the same family as Princess Diana. Yet history has largely forgotten Elizabeth Carey, Lady Hunsdon.
 
Born at Althorp, she was deeply connected to the Tudor court, married into the family of Mary Boleyn, and earned praise from some of the greatest poets, playwrights, and composers of the Elizabethan era.
 
But how did this remarkable woman fade into obscurity? And why was she a muse to some of the most influential figures of her time?
 
Discover the fascinating story of Lady Hunsdon, a patron of the arts who shaped Elizabethan culture but has been lost to history.
 
Listen now and uncover the life of this forgotten Tudor powerhouse!
 
#OnThisDay #TudorHistory #ElizabethCarey #WomenInHistory #SpencerFamily #PrincessDiana #EdmundSpenser #LiteraryHistory

Murder, Betrayal & Power

The Scandalous Life of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton
 
A suspected traitor, a royal insider, and a man linked to one of the most shocking murder plots of the 17th century—Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, knew how to survive in a world of political intrigue.
 
- He escaped imprisonment five times
- Rose to power under James I
- Played a shadowy role in the Overbury murder scandal
 
But was he a ruthless mastermind orchestrating a deadly conspiracy? Or just a shrewd survivor doing whatever it took to stay in favour?
 
Listern now to uncover the truth behind one of the Tudor-Stuart era’s most scandalous figures! Was he a cunning villain or a political genius?
 
#TudorHistory #HenryHoward #TrueCrimeHistory #RoyalScandal #OverburyMurder #HistoryUncovered #TudorCourt

The Surprisingly Gross History of Tudor Toilets

When nature called in Tudor times, where did people go? The answer might surprise (or horrify) you! From Henry VIII’s velvet-covered 'throne' to communal "houses of easement" and gong scourers wading through filth, Tudor sanitation was far from glamorous.
 
- What did they use to wipe?
- Where did all that waste really go?
- And why were some fireplaces used as emergency toilets?!
 
Join me as we flush out the truth about Tudor toilets! Watch now to uncover the weird, wonderful, and downright disgusting details of historic hygiene.
 
Was Tudor sanitation better or worse than you expected?
 
#TudorHistory #WeirdHistory #TudorToilets #MedievalLife #GrossButFascinating #HistoricalHygiene #TudorTrivia

The Tudors Were NOT Filthy

Think the Tudors were covered in dirt and never washed? Think again!
While they didn’t have hot showers or fancy soaps, they had their own clever ways of staying clean—some of which might surprise you!  
 
- Linen undergarments kept them fresh  
- Toothbrushes? Not quite, but they cleaned their teeth!  
- No showers, but daily “strip washes”  
-  Fancy soap balls scented with rose & musk  
 
And one historian even tested their hygiene methods—what she found was shocking!
 
Were the Tudors cleaner than we think? Listen now to find out!  
 
#TudorHistory #HistoricalMyths #Hygiene #TudorLife #WeirdHistory #HistoryLover

A Tudor Love Story Gone Wrong

The Tragic Tale of Katherine Grey. On this day in Tudor history, 21st February 1568, Lady Katherine Grey was laid to rest.
Born into royal blood, she was a cousin of Elizabeth I and the sister of Lady Jane Grey, the ill-fated ‘Nine Days’ Queen.’ But while Jane met the executioner’s block, Katherine faced a different kind of sentence—imprisonment, heartbreak, and separation from the man she loved.
 
- A secret marriage…
- An illegitimate heir…
-  A queen’s fury…
 
Why did Elizabeth I see her as such a threat? And was Katherine’s only crime falling in love?
 
Discover the gripping tale of Katherine Grey—Tudor pawn, prisoner, and romantic rebel. Listen now!
 
#TudorHistory #KatherineGrey #ElizabethI #TudorCourt #OnThisDay #LadyJaneGrey #ForgottenHistory

The Forgotten Tudor Woman Who Witnessed It All!

She served all of Henry VIII’s queens, navigated the treacherous world of court politics, and became the closest confidante of England’s last Tudor queen consort—yet history has largely forgotten her.
 
Meet Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke—younger sister to Catherine Parr, but so much more than just a royal relation. From witnessing the fall of Anne Boleyn to standing by Catherine Howard on her fateful journey to the Tower, Anne’s life was woven into the very fabric of the Tudor court.
 
- She was there when queens rose—and when they fell.
- She was entrusted with Catherine Howard’s jewels before her arrest.
- She was at court when Catherine Parr nearly lost everything in a religious plot.
- She witnessed Tudor politics unfold at the highest level, surviving where so many others perished.
 
But who was Anne Herbert beyond her royal connections? How did she navigate the dangers of the Tudor court? And why has history overlooked her incredible story?
 
Listen now as we uncover the fascinating life of Anne Herbert, the queen’s sister who saw it all!
 
#TudorHistory #AnneHerbert #CatherineParr #HenryVIII #WomenInHistory #OnThisDay #RoyalIntrigue

The Royal Rebel Who Defied Kings and Queens

On 19th February 1567, while imprisoned in the Tower of London, Lady Margaret Douglas received devastating news—her son, Lord Darnley, had been brutally murdered at Kirk o’ Field. But this was more than just the loss of a son—it shattered her dynastic hopes, leaving her a grieving mother caught in the deadly game of Tudor and Stuart politics.  
 
- Granddaughter of Henry VII, Margaret was born into royalty but repeatedly fell foul of the crown—not through open ambition, but by defying royal authority and making decisions without permission.  
- She supported her son’s marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, without Elizabeth I’s blessing—only for him to be murdered in mysterious circumstances less than two years later.  
- Her relentless pursuit of justice helped turn English and Scottish opinion against Mary, Queen of Scots.  
- But Margaret’s independent choices landed her in the Tower multiple times, including for arranging another unauthorised marriage—this time for her surviving son, Charles.  
 
Despite losing her husband, both sons, and her own freedom, Margaret’s bloodline ultimately prevailed. Her grandson, James VI of Scotland, became James I of England in 1603, uniting the crowns and shaping the monarchy as we know it today.  
 
Margaret Douglas never ruled, but her defiance left a lasting mark on history. Listen now to uncover her extraordinary story!  
 
#MargaretDouglas #TudorHistory #RoyalIntrigue #OnThisDay #HistoryMatters #BritishMonarchy

Sisters, Rivals, and Queens

Mary I & Elizabeth I
 
They were daughters of Henry VIII, England’s first two crowned queens regnant, and two of the most formidable women in Tudor history. Yet while Mary I’s reign lasted just five years, Elizabeth ruled for over 44 years, shaping what many consider a Golden Age.  
 
- Both fought for their thrones—Mary against Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth against Mary, Queen of Scots.  
- Both built up England’s navy, laying the groundwork for future triumphs.  
- Both were married to the state—Mary to Catholicism and Philip of Spain, Elizabeth to England itself.  
- Both could be merciful and ruthless—Mary executed Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth executed Mary, Queen of Scots.  
- Both had the famous Tudor temper!
 
But their differences defined their legacies…  
- Mary was a devout Catholic, Elizabeth a pragmatic Protestant.  
- Mary married a king, Elizabeth remained the Virgin Queen.  
- Mary’s reign is remembered for the Marian persecutions, while Elizabeth’s is hailed as a Golden Age—but is that fair?  
 
Did history unjustly overshadow Mary, or was Elizabeth truly England’s greatest queen? Let’s explore their fascinating stories—listen now!  
 
#MaryI #ElizabethI #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #TudorQueens #BritishMonarchy #HistoryMatters