Clarendon Lecture – Queen of the Castle: Surveying the Landed Power of Queens in Premodern England

The queens consort of premodern England are often viewed solely in their familial role, as the wives and mothers of kings and queens. Yet, they were often the greatest landowner in the realm, bar the monarch—administering manors, castles, parklands, forests and more from the southern coast to the northern border with Scotland. This talk will discuss the queenly domains, evolving patterns of landholding and evaluating the landed power of queens consort. Particular focus will be given to the large cluster of lands held around Clarendon as a significant locus of queenly ‘dower power’ such as the castles of Ludgershall, Odiham and Devizes and the great manor of Hampstead Marshall. This talk aims to reveal how important the queen’s lands were to the practice of queenship, as a vital foundation for their authority, providing a financial basis for their households and patronage, as well as a means of constructing networks which radiated out across the realm.

Tickets include a glass of wine served from 7pm.

The talk begins at 7:30pm 

This event is accessible by lift or stairs.