Analysis of daily happenings at court under Henry VII & Henry VIII, using expense & receipt books of the King's Chamber. Funded by The Leverhulme Trust.
The expense and receipt books of the King’s Chamber (known as the Chamber Books) covering 1485 to 1521 are unique. These are the earliest systematic private records of the financial decisions of an English monarch, giving an unparalleled insight into royal personality, the purchase of luxury items and material goods, the interaction of private and public, and the politics and finances of kingship.
29/06/2018
Anyone fancy a bit of role-play?
Tudor takeover day Experience the court of young Henry VIII. Our Tudor takeover day is jam-packed full of breath-taking performances, fascinating talks and displays, and fun activities for everyone. Dress up as a knight in shining armour, fly majestic birds of prey in an astonishing falconry demonstration, and experie...
29/05/2017
-a good time to be thinking about escape! Not all escapes are successful, like this one from the Tower of London 1519
23/05/2017
Henry VII's French cook, Pero, served him for many years. Perhaps Henry's taste for French food was acquired during his long exile?
28/04/2017
Payment made Jan 1496 - 'to a litell mayden that daunceth' £12! John Heron, Treasurer of the Chamber, who wrote this entry, received only £3.6.8 per qtr at this time. What kind of dancing was she doing?!?!?!?! Note the poor Welsh rhymer underneath, who receives only 6s 8d - he may have considered a career change after seeing what the maiden received.
21/04/2017
1509 - Henry VII died. His death was kept a secret by certain of his councillors for a further 2 days so that they could orchestrate the arrest of the late king's ministers, Edmund Dudley and Richard Empson.
Want to learn more about Maundy pence? See the new blog post by project researcher Lisa Liddy - https://www.tudorchamberbooks.org/the-maundy-coins-of-henry-vii-and-henry-viii/