In Issue 23 of Tudor Places, we explore the magnificent Westminster Abbey, and consider its evolution from Benedictine monastery to Royal Peculiar and national mausoleum for Tudor royalty and nobility. At the other end of the country, in Devon and Cornwall, we examine the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion and the series of armed conflicts between Government forces and local rebels who did not want to accept Edward VI’s new Book of Common Prayer.

We look at Tiverton Castle, the chief residence of Katherine Courtenay, daughter, sister and aunt of kings, and learn how this Yorkist princess came to call a mid-Devon castle her home, and we delve into the medieval and Tudor history of Baynard’s Castle, the once-splendid palace on the banks of the River Thames, used by kings, queens and dukes, that no longer exists.

Professor Tracy Borman reflects on her research of Hever Castle, its fascinating history and the reasons why she set her latest novel, The House of Boleyn, at Hever. We have an interview with Fran Baker, Head of Archive and Library at Chatsworth, about the wealth of wonderful sixteenth-century documents held in the Chatsworth Archive.

Sarah, The Tudor Travel Guide, takes us into the world of Katherine Parr, exploring those manor houses, castles and palaces across England that shaped Henry VIII’s sixth wife. In Living at Old Hall, Brigitte Webster tells us about the hands-on courses in traditional building techniques that have helped her with the much-needed on-going repairs and maintenance, and in Last Place, Rosemary Griggs shares her favourite Tudor locations.

An independent magazine exploring Tudor places and their stories, past and present