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.


Saturday, 28 June 2025

Living History - Candlemas 1461

 
The other day I came upon a video made by a group of re-enactors as an experiment in living history and archaeology which was conducted over nine days, and set at the time of the feast of Candlemas in February 1460-61. This was, of course, a time of particular political and military turmoil and uncertainty in the life of the country.

It was held at a fifteenth century house that has been re-erected and conserved at the Weald & Downland Living Museum at Singleton near Chichester in Sussex and, as is explained in the video, followed rigorous procedures to sustain its accuracy and fidelity to what would have been fifteenth century norms.

There seems no reason to wait until Candlemas next year to share the video, which can be seen at How we lived 9 days and nights as a 15th Century English Household | Weald & Downland Living Museum

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