Beloved Eleanor

Longtime readers may remember I bought an original watercolour of Eleanor some years ago.  I’ve just come across a comission the same artist has completed of her husband Edward I!

I do like it – just wish it wasn’t modelled on the Braveheart image of him.  Obviously it was a comission though.   I hope that Mark manages to do his own version!

Whilst I’m on the subject of art, and was on Mark Satchwill’s site it reminded me he also recently completed a gorgeous picture of Elizabeth and Darcy from the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.

This leads me to the final piece of news today…a great Austen site, which recently wrote about the recycling of Regency costumes.  Check it out for yourselves…

Hands up who’s seen this new programme presented by David Dimbleby?  I watched it on BBC1 last Sunday, second episode tonight.  You can also catch it on the iPlayer…

I really enjoyed it – not so much the speeding through history, and starting with the Romans – which always annoys me intensely.  No, it was Dimbleby’s obvious enthusiasm, and the fact we get to see treasures of Britain which we normally don’t for various reasons.

Tonight, I’m hopeful that there will be a section about Eleanor, as in the preview they have shown my favourite cross at Geddington.  Exciting!

If you’ve seen it, let me know what you think of the programme so far.

Take a look at my lovely ‘new’ 1880s picture of Eleanor’s cross at Waltham.  I had not seen this particular image previously, and was admiring it last week.

Enter the lovely Carol – who got it for me!  Sending lots of hugs your way

Here’s the part where I finally get to update on lots of things that I’ve been either doing or attempting to do this year.

With reference to castle visits.  I managed to visit Delgatie Castle again, and it was sunny too.  I think it could end up being a favourite of mine.  Apart from the usual suspects, I haven’t managed any other ones this year sadly.

Plus, the  history books I got my hands on?

The lovely people at Country Life Magazine sent me a copy of Adams Houses, I bought myself Jane Austen: the World of Her Novels by Deidre Le Faye and I’ve managed to borrow Sir Thomas Lawrence (which I love) and Treasures From the Trust.

I should also update the historic film and TV list.  I’m ashamed to say I originally missed off accidentally: Excalibur, Daniel Deronda, Dangerous Liasons, Howard’s End.  There are lots more I love that I will add eventually.

Talking of TV, after the glut of interesting stuff, there hasn’t been much on that I’ve liked lately.  Series 3 of The Tudors was pretty boring stuff, and I even missed the end.  Caught up with the predecessor of Victorian Farm – Tales From the Green Valley – which I didn’t like nearly as much, haven’t seen the new Wuthering Heights (not bothered either, I HATE the story and characters) and am currently watching the new version of Emma, which I’m not liking much either, sigh.

I hope to get out to the cinema over the Winter to see at least a couple of new films, and to get some fresh books to read as I’m getting a bit low on material.  Maybe someone will take pity on me for my birthday…

Haven’t managed any exhibitions either, though I do lust over paintings at every available opportunity.  I can dream about making an exhibition some time soon.

Last, but not least, I’ve done a little tinkering with this site, and gathered a lot of Eleanor material together.  I’m much more happy with the site now than I ever was, so I will put a proper front page up.  Not in any rush though (why rush now!) it will come when time and creativity permits.

Last year I chronicled the sorting of the coin collection.  It turned out I had some rather interesting coins that I hadn’t noticed before.

Namely, one of the Prince Regent, or George IV, and even more exciting, one of Charles II.  Both of these coins are farthings.

I’ve recently been going through my Eleanor of Castile collection, and had completely forgotten that I have a coin much older than both of them, and this one I purchased myself.

It is…..Edward I!  He, of course being Eleanor’s husband.  I have tried to photograph it, though as it is in a protective pouch it is not the easiest.

Quite exciting for a Friday afternoon though!

Some of the sharper eyed, or more regular visitors amongst you will have noticed that EleanorBlog has had an update and new look.

This year, it will have been going for 2 years, and I’ve just bought 2 more years with my domain, so here’s to a few more.

I have been working on some other major research projects elsewhere, so Eleanor has had to wait somewhat, but this year the main pages will at last be completed for those of you that are interested in Eleanor, or just fancy a look.  I will let you know when it’s done and add a link here.

In the meantime, if you spot anything strange or broken, please let me know!

For new visitors, here are a few posts that explain why this blog is so-called:

• Introducing Eleanor
• Beloved Eleanor the Painting
• Whom Dead We Cannot Cease to Love
• Wordless Wednesday Entry – Hardingstone Cross
• Wordless Wednesday Entry – Harby Church
• Eleanor Crosses in Antiquity
• Collecting Eleanor
• Some Words About Fake Eleanor Crosses
• In Memory of Eleanor
• Wordless Wednesday Entry – Closeup of the Waltham Cross
• About Eleanor’s Family
• Eleanor of Castlile by Mark Satchwill
• The Tourist’s Eleanor

Let me know what you think so far, and thanks to all of you that have visited and commented since 2007.

Thanks again to all of you who voted and commented on what you like to see, and would like to see in future on EleanorBlog.

Thanks to the poll people I picked being a bit rubbish, I have just compiled the top 3 votes, which were for:

• Anything about the Castle
• Your photography
• Historical people

I also recieved a number of votes for all of it! So thanks for that must be doing something right here…

I found it quite hard to only pick 5 winners from the commentors, so I think I shall do another giveaway later on in the year. Here are the lucky winners, congratulations, I will be contacting you shortly to send on your prizes!

Mrs Mecomber wins the top prize of guide books, magnet, thimble and seeds, Kathryn and Laura win both the guide books, and last but not least, Claire and Margaret win the castle guide book.

I’m shocked at how fast the time has gone.  This means that now I have to really sort out my website for Eleanor of Castile and upload the photos and articles that I have written etc.

The problem is I don’t actually like the theme I have on there any more.  I quite liked it at first, but it slightly depresses me now, so I don’t want to do any work on the site.  Unfortunately I really can’t afford to have a site designed, so I’m on the look out for some nice historic looking free layouts.

Anyone got any tips of good places to go?

I’m going to be giving some Castle Fraser stuff away in honour of my first blogoversary, but I haven’t decided if there is going to be a competition of some sorts in there as well.  Will announce it in a few days…

Thanks to the lovely Alianore, I recently discovered the work of UK artist Mark Satchwill. We have all been particularly admiring Mark’s watercolours of Edward II (Eleanor’s youngest son) and Isabella. I also looked through his portfolio of work, and discovered that he had painted many historical figures plus many other gorgeous original images.

Of course, being me, I had to ask Mark if he was going to paint Eleanor! Well, I’d like to think she has some input into this site, and would demand to know in her own queenly way! I was very pleased to learn that Eleanor was indeed on his list to paint.

So, how excited am I? I got an email yesterday letting me know that Eleanor’s painting was finished and up on Mark’s blog! I was in no doubt of his talent, but I was stunned by how beautiful she looks. The lovely wavy long hair, regal face and aristocratic profile – but most important of all – she looks vital and alive, how I like to remember her despite her beautiful crosses.

Why not go over and visit Mark’s blog and say hi? Tell him I sent you. Don’t forget to look at his paintings and prints that are still available to buy via his website. I have to warn you I have bought the original of Eleanor, but you can still buy a print of it!

Eleanor of Castile by Mark Satchwill. Image re-produced with kind permission of the artist.

The surviving Eleanor Crosses in Geddington and Hardingstone, Northamptonshire have been popular postcard destinations for many years. In my Eleanor collection I have many of these, dating back to the early 1900s, from about 1905 I think. You will also see the Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire.

Postcards of historic sites are always a reasonable way to collect views of your favourite building/site or person. They are usually available for about a pound each, sometimes less if they are a little dog-eared!

I also have a postcard of Eleanor’s tomb, or the electrotype version anyway, which I have posted here before. I’m always hoping for more exciting ones. We’ll see…

Geddington, Hardingstone and Waltham Cross early postcards, plus a photographic card of Charing Cross, showing the Victorian replica of the original.