Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Medieval girl power comes to Bosworth Battlefield!
Posted on 28/01/2011
Community Services
Medieval girl power comes to Bosworth Battlefield!
The award winning Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre is best known for its interactive exploration of battles, armour and medieval army life, but this year’s free entry exhibition shows a very different side of medieval life. It looks at the lives of medieval women and will be on display from February 2nd until December 30th 2011.
The exhibition, entitled ‘The Medieval Woman – instrument of the Devil, exulted above all angels’, looks at the roles of European women in the Middle Ages and how they were viewed in the eyes of the church and in the law. For much of the time girl power really did not feature in life as medieval women had their lives controlled by men, a girl obeyed her father and a wife was the property of her husband.
However there were some opportunities for women to make their own lives, although they were few and far between. In towns as well as the countryside, women worked in a wide range of trades, often with their husbands and fathers. Wealthy widows had a certain amount of independence - although they could be required by the King to remarry to ensure their lands were under male control - and the mothers and wives of important men could have enormous influence on politics.
The exhibition follows the lives of young and old women, illustrated with the stories of real medieval women, including Margaret Beaufort, the wife of Lord Stanley and mother of Henry Tudor, who won the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Other famous women whose stories are told include The Empress Matilda, who waged a civil war against her brother King Stephen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the strident mother of Richard the Lionheart, Roesia de Verdun, the founder of Grace Dieu Priory in Leicestershire and French writer Christine de Pisan.
On display are replica costumes and a range of replica and original personal items, such as mirrors, needle cases, jewellery and a wonderful glass linen presser.
David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities, said:
"This colourful exhibition, which is full of wonderful medieval illustrations, gives a fascinating insight into the lives of women in the Middle Ages and offers visitors to the Battlefield Heritage Centre a great free bonus to their visit."
A talk by Dr Helen Castor, a Fellow in history at Cambridge and author of ‘She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth’, on the lives of some of Medieval England’s most powerful women will be given at the Heritage Centre on April 9th 2011 at 2pm.
For further information about the exhibition please contact Richard Knox, Keeper of Donington and Bosworth on 0116 305 8327
A restored late 14th century alabaster effigy of a wealthy, but unknown, lady at St Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray.
The Prioress from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
A mid 19th century painting of Joan of Arc by the French painter Ingres. Joan is holding her divinely inspired banner and wearing the armour that would lead to her being burnt as a heretic.