How to invade England – 1066 and all that

- March 17, 2026April 6, 2026

First published October 2015 William II Duke of Normandy didn’t read self-help books. He never spent an afternoon taking personality tests to find out if he was an ‘ENFP’ (enthusiastic, creative) or ENTA (commander...) nor did he worry over much about his personal brand. Because William knew exactly who he was, knew

Matilda’s gift, from Barfleur

- June 15, 2024June 30, 2024

This post was first published in October 2017 In 1066 Matilda, wife of William, Duke of Normandy, commissioned a ship for a king. Her husband was still a Duke but she knew he would conquer that muddy country to the north. The ship was built in Barfleur and named Mora. Ship building

On being a Normandy castle, at Arques-la-Bataille

- April 10, 2023April 10, 2023

First published September 2014 A chance purchase of an intriguing old postcard in Honfleur took us to this charming ruin, the castle at Arques-la-Bataille. A castle not widely advertised. There are no tours, or a shop. No medal coins can be bought at its entrance for 2 euro. We could have

The humiliation of perfidious Guimond, from Moulins-la-Marche

- April 9, 2023April 10, 2023

First published August 2017 This view is from the old castle, now just a hill, at Moulins-la-Marche in the Perche. Looking out through gently swaying trees across the Perche countryside or back into the town it’s hard to believe these were once the badlands of medieval Normandy. Marche in this instance is

The ghosts of Normandy past, in Sussex England

History

- October 29, 2020October 29, 2020

Our postcard shows the gatehouse of Battle Abbey, built with an impressive wall, to protect one of the richest Abbeys in England from marauding English and raiding French. Ironic considering its very existence is due to a promise made to a Pope by a Norman duke, in 1066. Exploring the Abbey

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