Joanna Wilkins: Life in 13th Century England
At the time of the Battle of Lewes 1264 the powerful de Warenne family of Lewes castle were allied to King Henry III by marriage.
As befitted such an important family, they built impressive homes, wore the latest fashions and enjoyed the most prestigious leisure activities. They also commissioned two exquisite manuscripts at a time when English illumination was undergoing a sea change. Lavishly decorated, these manuscripts relied on a new realism and elegance which reflected the aristocratic world of their patrons.
The Life of Thomas Becket and the Gorleston Psalter, commissioned by the de Warenne family, give us an insight into the lavish world of 13th century England. Using these, and other contemporary illustrations, this talk shows what it was like to live in England during the infancy of our democratic system.
Joanna is an Education Officer for the Sussex Archaeological Society, and this will be her fourth talk to our History Group about different aspects of medieval history – she has previously spoken to us about Anne of Cleves, William and Gundrada De Warenne (the Bill and Melinda Gates of their day) and making medieval meals.
All are welcome from 7.00pm for free refreshments and updates on the Group’s activities. The talk will begin promptly at 7:30pm and will finish by 9.00pm.
There is an entry fee for these meetings, payable at the door, of £2 for members, and £3 for non-members.
Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)
See the Meetings page for a list of forthcoming monthly talks organised by the Lewes History Group.
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