Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Medieval vegetables we have lost


Whilst doing my online grocery shopping I was distracted by a video from Medieval Times Discovered about fifteen vegetables that have largely or entirely vanished from modern kitchen, but which were widely used in the medieval centuries. Some were valuable as supplements to diets in winter or times of famine. Most were valuable sources of minerals and made for healthy eating. I was aware of quite a few but it added to my knowledge of what was available. The comments do give examples of the continuing use of these vegetables in Europe, and another’s, such as dandelion leaves.

The video, with a slightly irritating jokey commentary which is a bit off-putting, can be seen at 15 Forgotten Vegetables Medieval Farmers Grew That NEED to Come Back


If you want to try them today I think you will have to get out and get gardening, unless you have a very specialised greengrocer, or live deep in the countryside with unmown grass verges. You would certainly be wasting your time enquiring in a supermarket…



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