IF IT'S CHRISTMAS IT MUST BE WINDSOR By Elizabeth Chadwick

 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. 

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

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

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

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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