In the course of my research, I often have to know (if possible to know) where a particular English monarch was spending Christmas. This has led me to a few other posts on the history girls regarding the festive whereabouts of King Henry I, his grandson King Henry II and his great grandson King John. Henry I's whereabouts are here. If it's Christmas it must be Westminster For Henry II go here If it's Christmas it must be Chinon and King John is here. King John's Christmas Eve
I continue the tradition now with their many times descendent Edward III, scion of the fourteenth century, and his whereabouts at this time of year, if known. Some such as Windsor were common to all, but many had different preferences, or itinerant residences. Windsor itself seems to have been a particular favourite of Edward III when not engaged in warfare or travelling for business.
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| King Edward III grants Aquitaine to his son Prince Edward Initial letter "E" of miniature, 1390 |
Lets have a look from 1327 onwards.
1327 Edward was at Worcester
1328 Edward was again at Worcester
1329 Kenilworth was the venue for all of December as it had been in November. He finally moved on to Alcester on January 3rd.
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| ruins of Kenilworth Castle. Photo Rosemary Watson |
330 Kingston Upon Thames
1331 Wells
1332 Now in Yorkshire at Beverley
1333 Wallingford
1334 Back up north at Roxburgh
1335 Newcastle On Tyne
1336 Hatfield, Yorkshire
1337 Guildford
1338 Abroad now in Antwerp where his second son Lionel was born
1339 Antwerp again
1340 Reading
1341 Melrose and Roxburgh
1342 Vannes
1343 Woodstock - a favourite pleasure palace of the Angevin kings and still in frequent favour
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| Print of Woodstock palace, demolished in the 18th Century to make way for Blenheim Palace. |
1344 Norwich
1345 Woodstock again
1346 Across the Channel in Calais which was under English rule and control
1347 Guildford for the second time. He'd been here 10 years ago in 1337
1348 Oxford - a one and only. This was the year that the Black Death came to England.
1349 Havering atte Bowere
1350 Ludgershall
1351 St Albans followed by Woodstock the next day
1352 St Albans again
1353 Eltham
1354 Hampstead Marshall - in an earlier century the home of the great William Marshal
1355 Newcastle on Tyne. Last previous visit was in 1335, 20 years earlier
1356 Eltham
1357 Marlborough
1358 Havering atte Bowere - a favourite residence of his wife Queen Philippa of Hainault
1359 Abroad at Verzy
1360 Woodstock again. From here on in, King Edward holds Christmas in the Home Counties within a shortish distance of London.
1361 Windsor. Now we begin a consecutive run.
1362 Windsor
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| Modern Windsor Castle: author's personal photo collection |
1363 Windsor
1364 Windsor
1365 Windsor
1366 Windsor
1367 Eltham
1368 Windsor
1369 King's Langley - Queen Philippa died in the autumn of this year.
1370 Sheen or King's Langley
1371 Eltham
1372 Eltham
1373 Woodstock
1374 King's Langley or Sheen
1375 King's Langley
1376 Havering atte Bowere
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| Tomb effigy of Edward III: Web Gallery of Art |
Elizabeth Chadwick is a million selling author of historical fiction. Her latest novels cover the life and times of Joan of Kent in The Royal Rebel and The Crownless Queen. She is currently writing a novel about Katherine Swynford and her relationships with her husbands Hugh Swynford and John of Gaunt.
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