#Bermondsey Tales

[moviereviews101web]

Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire (2024) Movie Review

Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire – Movie Review Director: Michael Head (The Last Heist) Writer: Michael Head (Screenplay) Cast John Hannah (The Mummy) Alan Ford (Cockneys vs Zombies) Charlotte Kirk (The Lair) Vicki Michelle (‘Allo ‘Allo) Frank Harper (Bend It Like Beckham) Vas Blackwood (Creep) Plot: A gritty comedy-drama based on real events. Bermondsey Tales: Fall Of The…

[hplovecraftmuseum]

Cover of a book from a series published by Arcturus Publishing Limited 26/27 Bickels Yard, 151-153. Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3HA. The cover design was by Peter Gray. This particular trade paperback contains (4) of Lovecraft's finest short tales from his later years. There is now some question about copyright ownership of HPL's tales, but pretty much anybody can reprint his works free of charge. Whatever the legal ramifications are a plethora of new editions of his tales are showing up with new cover illustrations fairly regularly and often with introductions by a variety of persons claiming to be authorities on Lovecraft's work and life. (Exhibit 495)

[litgreadersroom]

Golden Thread by starsarestars

Author's tumblr: @starsarestars

Rating: Teen and Up

Main relationship: Arjun/MC

Summary: Far away in a world of it's very own, tucked away in an affluent fashion quarter not too far from Bermondsey, is a place where designer heels and exorbitantly overpriced colognes supplied by a buxom Mancunian are a requirement. Verona Lane. It’s all about image first, personality later. The people there have mastered the art of keeping up appearances, even if it means renting the odd Lamborghini to pose outside your obscenely expensive bedsit in Penge with.

Verona Lane is where this tale of deception, fashion and seriously questionable decisions begins.

Extra details: Season 2 AU, enemies to lovers

Oneshot, 10k words

[xtruss]

History: The Many Lives of Gaza - A Peek Into Palestinian Daily Life

— Mariam Amini | Monday January 22, 2024

If a picture is worth a thousand words, The Many Lives of Gaza exhibition could write several trilogies.

Displayed at the Bermondsey Project Space earlier this month, the exhibition told the tale of Palestine through a nostalgic Gazan lens.

Prior to the Nakba in 1948, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, the Gaza Strip was an area of fertile land and abundance, composed of vibrant fishing towns and villages.

Following this upheaval, some 750,000 Palestinians were displaced. Zionist militias killed at least 15,000 local residents, ethnically cleansing more than 500 towns. In Gaza alone, some 130,000 refugees arrived, having fled ransacked villages.

The Many Lives of Gaza captures this aftermath vividly, making use of multiple media forms.

A group of Palestinian children laughing and grinning

Archived photographs from the Palestinian Museum in the West Bank display the reality of refugee camps. Video interviews with survivors relay anecdotes of the past.

Pieces by Palestinian artists and infographics also dot the walls, letting visitors engage with key facts and figures.

“It’s this combination of very heartfelt photography but also hardcore facts - I think that’s a strength of the exhibition,” says Jordanian Filipina-American writer and editor Malu Halasa.

“It’s important to put Gaza into perspective, and to think about it differently. Looking at the news, you hear about what’s happening in terms of the war, but it’s rare that we’re hearing Gazan voices or seeing Gazan faces.”

According to Halasa, the key to understanding the real context lies in creative spaces. “The amplification of Palestinian lives, voices, experiences is very important. In culture and art, you learn more about people. These are platforms where people speak for themselves instead of having the intermediary of the news or an academic.”

For exhibition co-curator Dr Meg Peterson, this resonates. “There’s an educational element to it. “[We’re] trying to uncover the layers so people don’t just see images of conflict and destruction. It’s also seeing images of life and joy - that side of Gaza.”

“There’s a much deeper story behind the images. People want to know more about the people who are captured, but unfortunately we just don’t know where they are.”

A proud new Palestinian mother cradling her newborn

Through expression and emotion alone, Peterson hopes to connect to people’s humanity. Her main message is one of “solidarity and action”.

“There’s so much that you can do on a small scale to make a really big difference, and everyone should feel a responsibility to be a part of that change.”

This is a cause of special significance for co-curator Nadine Aranki, who is herself Palestinian. Having grown up in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the reality of life under occupation is especially close to home.

“It’s like we are undergoing slow mass murder. There are many justifications out there by the Israeli propaganda about why they are committing this genocide. In the West Bank, we have also seen a rise of Israeli soldiers killing people.”

Aranki seeks to dispel this dehumanisation and violence by drawing focus onto the subtle and everyday. “We try to tell the story of the daily life of Palestinians in Gaza. Visitors are really fascinated by this context. It’s giving them new information.”

As for her wishes for the future, Aranki believes in the power of art to make change.

“This exhibition is really important at this specific moment of time. It’s trying to break through and shift the narrative of what it means to be Palestinian.”

“A lot of the time, this is presented as a complicated question, but it’s not. It’s very simple. We want a ceasefire. We want our people to live.”

[cocoartistwrites]

Hey Coco - loving the big sister energy you bring to your anons! Got a question. I'm headed to London in November and need your recs on the best places to stay. Looking for places with proximity to cool bars, shopping or events. Last time I went to London, I was a kid traveling with my parents and did all of the cliche, touristy stuff. Tons of fun but obviously a different experience compared to traveling as an adult and with friends.

firstly thank you so much <3

Secondly: London, like most big capital cities, obviously has several cool enclaves that are not necessarily all convenient for each other so none of these will be perfect but all of them should be pretty great. Also I don't know your budget! They're all quite established so should have plenty of options.

Soho - when we say 'I'll meet you in central' or 'let's go to central' we mean Soho. As a grown-up tourist you'll be near anything you need to be near e.g. bars and clubs and restaurants.

For a more chilled version with goodish transport links, walkable to the river, the tate modern, and the Globe try near Borough Market/off Bermondsey Street.

People like Camden, I don't know it that well tbh but go there for music/comedy sometimes.

Angel. Good transport links and some nice local bars and restaurants, can walk to Exmouth market for a bit of a vibe.

If you want to go east, somewhere round Broadway Market next to London Fields is great but maybe better for a day out and drinks than to stay, then end up at Night Tales for the night.

Also ran: Hackney, Brixton, Portobello

[ukcinemas]

UK film releases for the week starting 17th May 2024: Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire, Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg, Hoard, IF, The Strangers: Chapter 1. Full details of all these films and trailers are available on https://www.britinfo.net/cinema/

[weekly-magazine-uk]

Revitalizing Southwark: The Art of Seamless Rubbish Clearance with MM Rubbish

Introduction:

In the heart of Southwark, where the old meets the new, the need for rubbish clearance that aligns with the borough's dynamic character is more essential than ever. This article delves into the fascinating world of efficient waste removal in Southwark, spotlighting the innovative solutions offered by MM Rubbish Clearance. From quirky neighborhoods to bustling commercial hubs, discover how MM Rubbish Clearance is rewriting the narrative of rubbish clearance in this vibrant corner of London.

Navigating the Labyrinth of Southwark's Waste:

Southwark's streets tell tales of diversity and history, but they also hide the challenge of managing diverse types of waste. MM Rubbish Clearance, with its arsenal of state-of-the-art equipment, elegantly navigates this labyrinth. From the trendy streets of Bermondsey to the cultural richness of Dulwich, MM Rubbish Clearance's heavy-duty rubbish bags and specialized tools ensure a seamless experience in the removal of everything from household clutter to commercial waste.

Bespoke Solutions for Southwark's Eccentricities:

Southwark is known for its quirks and eccentricities, and MM Rubbish Clearance embraces these unique characteristics. Tailoring its rubbish clearance services to suit the distinctive needs of Southwark residents and businesses, MM Rubbish Clearance becomes a bespoke solution in a borough that thrives on individuality. No item is too bulky, no alley too narrow – MM Rubbish Clearance finds a way.

The Green Beat of Southwark:

In a borough that cherishes green spaces like Burgess Park and Peckham Rye, MM Rubbish Clearance dances to the eco-friendly beat. Their commitment to environmentally responsible practices harmonizes with Southwark's desire for sustainability. Waste isn't just removed; it's handled with a green touch, contributing to a cleaner and greener Southwark.

From Rotherhithe to Elephant and Castle: A Community Clean-up Movement:

MM Rubbish Clearance isn't just about removing waste; it's about fostering a community clean-up movement. From the historic streets of Rotherhithe to the bustling Elephant and Castle, MM Rubbish Clearance partners with the community to keep Southwark pristine. Transparent processes, community engagement, and a commitment to cleanliness make MM Rubbish Clearance an integral part of Southwark's urban rhythm.

Unveiling Hidden Treasures: Southwark's Bulky Waste Revolution:

Bulky waste in Southwark isn't a challenge; it's an opportunity for MM Rubbish Clearance to unveil hidden treasures. The team's knack for handling even the bulkiest items with finesse transforms rubbish clearance into a fascinating exploration. Old furniture, forgotten relics – MM Rubbish Clearance turns the mundane into the extraordinary, enriching the narrative of waste removal in Southwark.

Conclusion: Elevating Southwark's Rubbish Clearance Experience:

In conclusion, MM Rubbish Clearance is not just a rubbish removal service; it's a curator of Southwark's waste narrative. With a blend of innovation, community spirit, and a commitment to sustainability, MM Rubbish Clearance elevates the rubbish clearance in Southwark. It's not just about removing waste; it's about creating a cleaner, more interesting Southwark, one clearance at a time.

[preciserestumping]

How to Identify When Your House Needs Restumping and Underpinning

When it comes to the stability of your home, restumping and underpinning are two processes that you should know about. They both involve the replacement of and repair of stumps, whether they be timber or concrete. It’s important that your property is upheld with the best quality stumps as they can significantly affect the structural integrity of the house. If you’re wondering how to identify when your house needs restumping or underpinning, here are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for:

Uneven or sagging floors are usually an indication that the stumps are deteriorating or damaged. They’re also a sign that the foundation is not supporting the weight of the building, which can lead to cracks and collapsing walls. Restumping will correct this problem and improve the load-bearing capacity of the foundation.

If your property has wooden stumps, they can rot with moisture over time. They can also be affected by termites, which can turn full wood blocks into nothing but dust. In order to prevent this, it’s important that you choose a company that uses termite-resistant materials when restumping your house.

Another common reason for re-stumping is to add a second story or extension to the property. It’s essential that you choose a reputable company to do this, as it will have the experience and expertise to ensure the structure can withstand the added weight.

Underpinning is a process that can be done in conjunction with reblocking or restumping. It involves digging under the existing foundations and pumping concrete into the soft areas to make them solid again. This is a great solution for houses that have started to sink in certain areas of the property due to expansive soil or age-related wear and tear.

When choosing a company to carry out underpinning, it’s important to choose one with extensive industry experience and a strong reputation for customer service. It’s also important to get quotes from multiple companies and compare the pricing to find the best deal. Underpinning is a costly process, but it’s well worth the investment to protect your home.

If you’re looking for a company that offers underpinning and restumping services in Melbourne, look no further than Bendigo Restumping & Underpinning. We offer a range of residential and commercial services that combine the latest technology with solid experience and old-fashioned hard work to deliver the results you need. Contact us today to discuss your requirements with our friendly team! We’re proud to serve clients in Bendigo, Camberwell, Bermondsey, Camberwell, Camberwell North, Camberwell South, Camberwell East, Camberwell West, Elwood, Gardenvale, Brighton, McKinnon, Ormond, Caulfield and surrounding suburbs.

Precise Restumping & Underpinning successfully maintains a reputation for delivering quality, reliable and sound services to clients all over New South Wales, with a licensed builder that personally oversee all work.

[rebelrayne]

These are fics I recommend to change your life (and your opinion) of all the LIs that were ranked with negative points with combined like and dislike votes! They are all amazing! Read them and prepare to love these least fave LIs! I dare you not to fall in love with them. Big thanks to @longbobmckenzie who helped out a lot with the recs and anything she recs is amazing, 100% so enjoy these!

In the recs, you will find fics for: Arjun, Bill, Ciaran, Elijah, Elisa, Felix, Harry, Ibrahim, Jakub, James, Mason and Tom.

fight for it (RATED M) by @queen-of-boops

Arjun has never had a normal life. He's spent his whole life running, his whole life avoiding others. Until he met Emma. But he has a secret, a secret he hopes she'll never find out.

golden thread (RATED T) by @starsarestars

Far away in a world of it's very own, tucked away in an affluent fashion quarter not too far from Bermondsey, is a place where designer heels and exorbitantly overpriced colognes supplied by a buxom Mancunian are a requirement. Verona Lane. It’s all about image first, personality later. The people there have mastered the art of keeping up appearances, even if it means renting the odd Lamborghini to pose outside your obscenely expensive bedsit in Penge with. Verona Lane is where this tale of deception, fashion and seriously questionable decisions begins

hey stupid, i love you (NOT RATED) by @sparxaf

A bit of fluff in which Bill faces an impossible choice. Five minute word prompt from the LITG FF writer Discord : Mayo Enjoy this lil bit of Bill love. He's a complicated character. I liked him, then I didn't, then I sort of did. Now I love him. He's a weirdo but he's also sweet. He deserves more fandom exposure.

the only two things (RATED E) by @mrsbsmooth

Based off a writing prompt (Fake Dating) allocated by the LITGWritersRoom on Tumblr. "Sophie". Kelly blurted out. "His girlfriend's name's Sophie. She's a friend of mine. And yeah, she's coming." Oh god. Kelly thought.��She really hoped Sophie would be okay with this.

reap what you sow (RATED T) by @i-boop-you

It's the Stick or Twist recoupling, and Elijah is in for a shock. (Justice for Elijah is served)

clickbait (RATED M) by kiki_the_creator

Clicks are power, power is money, and Elisa can’t say no to money. Only her newest financial venture is proving far more stubborn than anticipated, and the clicks might not be worth the hassle. Until they start racking up, and up, and up, and she falls deeper and deeper, just for the ploy to begin falling apart in her hands.

heaven help a fool who falls in love (RATED T) by @crimswnred

When you're young and hurt, love feels so distant. A somber take on Felix.

mind games (RATED M) by @becangle

Felix arrives at Casa Amor ready to romance his dream girl.

choppy waters (RATED M) by @queen-of-boops

Harry and Piper won Love Island one year ago and it's been anything but smooth sailing.

how the turn tables (RATED E) by @crimswnred

Zoe and Harry have been in a couple for the most part of the season but it’s the first night the Hideaway is open...

superpower (RATED M) by constantrepeat

Through a desire to please and be a hero to those who mean most to him, Ibrahim's spent his entire life abiding to a stringent lifestyle that's left little room for play, let alone love. However, an invitation veers him off-course and into the world of Love Island, a shameless and saucy destination of romance and debauchery. Hoping to face his fears in order to find someone to share his life with, Ibrahim finds new power through the pursuit of love and the challenges it brings, in a high-stakes environment where everyone's looking to save themselves.

121°C (RATED T) by margotmuses

Jakub finds that maybe what he likes isn’t what he thought.

the other side (RATED T) by @rebelrayne

Was it really happening? He had to have been dreaming. He wasn’t big, rugged and buff like Hazeem. He couldn’t be cool and collected like Kobi. He��d never be as handsome as Dylan. There’s no way he could ever be charming or suave like Youcef… He was just… him?

the challenge (RATED T) by @thesepromises

Hope Adeniyi wants a promotion, and to do that, she needs to score an exclusive merchandising contract with boy band Seventh Heaven following a recent surge in their popularity. Lead singer Mason Knowles wants her to fail; but Hope always plays to win.

and the day after that, too (RATED T) by @/rebelrayne

In 2016, Summer had a whirlwind romance with a boy with a British accent. He wasn’t very smooth and he wasn’t the tallest guy around, but for those short three months, he was hers.

[moviereviews101web]

Brutal Battle for Survival: Escape Film Review

Escape – Movie Review Director: Howard J Ford Writer: Howard J Ford (Screenplay) Cast Sarah Alexandra Marks (Help) Sophie Rankin (Bermondsey Tales) Sean Cronin (Bogieville) Louis James (A Simple Robbery) Ksenia Islamova (The Lockdown Hauntings) Plot: Ten trafficked women attempt escaping ruthless gang after being abducted from resort. Nurse and dancer lead fight for survival in desert…

[starsarestars]

Far away in a world of it's very own, tucked away in an affluent fashion quarter not too far from Bermondsey, is a place where designer heels and exorbitantly overpriced colognes supplied by a buxom Mancunian are a requirement. Verona Lane. It’s all about image first, personality later. The people there have mastered the art of keeping up appearances, even if it means renting the odd Lamborghini to pose outside your obscenely expensive bedsit in Penge with. Verona Lane is where this tale of deception, fashion and seriously questionable decisions begins.

Golden Thread [The Arjun x MC Gift Fic for @longbobmckenzie]

[Dev Patel is the Arjun FC and Liz Gillies is Devon’s FC.]

[friendly-neighbourhood-librarian]

Bookish Books Masterlist

Libraries, bookshops, and bibliophiles, oh my!

Fiction

Fantasy

The Glass Library series - C. J. Archer [1][2][3]

The Great Library series - Rachel Caine [1][2][3][4][5]

Ink Blood Sister Scribe - Emma Törsz

Sorcery of Thorns - Margaret Rogerson

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern

The Story Thieves - James Riley

Thursday Next series - Jasper Fforde [1]

Historical

The Bermondsey Bookshop - Mary Gibson

*The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The Librarian of Auschwitz - Antonio Iturbe

Contemporary

Between the Lines - Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

The Bookshop of Yesterdays - Amy Meyerson

The Bookshop on the Corner - Jenny Colgan

The Bookshop on the Shore - Jenny Colgan

The Library of Lost and Found - Phaedra Patrick

The Lost for Words Bookshop - Stephanie Butland

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore - Matthew Sullivan

The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

*Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan

The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield

The Words Between Us - Erin Bartels

Cozy Mysteries

The Magical Bookshop Mystery series - Amanda Flower [1][2][3]

Murder Past Due - Miranda James

Nonfiction

Dewey - Vicki Myron

I'd Rather Be Reading - Anne Bogel

The Library Book - Susan Orlean

Reading Behind Bars - Jill Grunenwald

*I read these before I started this blog so I don’t have a post for them, but I do recommend them!

[visionsofelizabeth]

✖ ▒ OH, WHAT A COINCIDENCE! i was just thinking of [ ELIZABETH OF YORK ]. most swear their resemblance to [ KEIRA KNIGHTLEY ] is unmistakable, but she has been around since the [ LATE MIDDLE AGES ]. it is rumoured that the [ CIS FEMALE ] was born in [ LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM ] in the year [ 1466 ], even though they don’t look a day over [ THIRTY ]. what a shame, though: they were once famed for being [ AMBITIOUS ] and [ STEADFAST ] ; yet now, they seem more and more [ STUBBORN ] and [ INTERFERING ]. but while [ ELIZABETH ] spends their days working as [ A POLITICAL AIDE ], they are already notorious around town for [ CRAFTING PRECISELY THE RIGHT WORDS AND FITTING THEM INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S MOUTH; METICULOUS & BEAUTIFUL PENMANSHIP; “ANCESTRAL” HALLS SHORTER-LIVED THAN YOU; THE CENTURIES’ OLD GLEAM OF A CROWN; A WAY TO WIN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BATTLE ]. when you live forever, you might as well make the most of it. ( shannon. 20. bst/gmt+1. she/her. )

MUN STUFF:

hello hi there, friends! i’m shannon, i really hate ( most of ) philippa gregory, and this is the historical love of my life, elizabeth of york. i hope i make you all love her as much as i absolutely adore her. if you’re invested in the experience, i recommend listening to ‘the tower’ by ludovico einaudi while reading about her because it really helped me get my feelings about her down onto paper.

BASICS:

FULL NAME: her majesty queen elizabeth of england.

MONIKER / NICKNAME: lizzie; the white rose of york ( nicknames. )

TITLES: queen consort of england ( 1486-1503 ), princess ( 1466-1483 officially; regarded a princess by some after this date until her coronation as queen consort in 1486. )

GENDER && PRONOUNS: cis female && she/her.

DOB && AGE: eleventh of february, fourteen sixty-six ( age five hundred and fifty-four; immortally thirty. )

PLACE OF BIRTH: westminster palace, london, england.

ZODIAC SIGN: aquarius.

ETHNICITY: white.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: biromantic

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

FACE CLAIM: keira knightley.

HEIGHT: 5 ft 7 in (170cm)

PHYSICAL BUILD: slim, rectangular.

EYE COLOUR AND SHAPE: brown; deep-set.

HAIR COLOUR AND STYLE: brown; varies.

USUAL EXPRESSION: neutral.

ACCENT AND SPEECH STYLE: received pronunciation; measured speed.

DISTINGUISHING MARKS / CHARACTERISTICS: pierced ears & an outline of the rennes cathedral tattooed on her wrist that she got done ten years ago.

CLOTHING STYLE: varies heavily; in her job, she likes suits now.

JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES: she still wears her wedding ring from the 1480s, and possesses earrings in the likeness of the tudor rose, though she can so rarely wear the latter.

FAMILY:

FATHER: edward iv of england

MOTHER: elizabeth woodville

SIBLINGS, IF ANY: nine full, two half.

EXTENDED RELATIONS: cecily neville (grandmother) && richard iii of england (uncle.)

SIGNIFICANT OTHER(S): henry vii of england (husband, 1486—, legally ended upon her “death” in 1503). there has and will be no one else.

CHILDREN: seven or eight, including henry viii of england.

HOUSEHOLD PET(S): none; they die too soon. she used to keep greyhounds in her heyday.

FAVOURITES:

COLOUR: red && white; the colours of lancaster and york.

WEATHER: when it is overcast but comfortably so, and rain is on the horizon so the air is refreshing when it caresses your face. quintessentially english.

FOOD ITEM: the christmas roast. it reminds her of raucous and happy times with her family.

BEVERAGE: burgundian wine.

TIME OF DAY: just before dawn, when everything is peaceful & the world could just seem... perfectly endless, and yet, so small.

TELEVISION GENRE: drama. political & nordic noir. think borgen & the killing.

FAVOURITE ERA LIVED: 1486-1503; the years of her marriage.

PERSONALITY:

HOBBIES: gambling & music & reading & dancing & writing & watching theatre.

PET PEEVES: people who chew loudly. tardiness.

ALLERGIES: none known.

MBTI TYPE: estj-a.

ENNEAGRAM TYPE: type one, with a two wing: “the advocate.”

SLEEPING HABITS: restless. not as regular as they should be.

OLDEST BELONGING: her wedding ring from the 1480s.

HOME: chester square, belgravia.

DAUGHTER, SISTER, NIECE AND WIFE

No one else will ever be all four to kings ( Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, Henry VII ) but that distinction — much like your life — is marred by instability, grief and strife. 

Your father became sick: whisperings of poison persist, and you must admit you are not sure of the truth. Your brother disappeared to the Tower: whisperings of murder exist, and you must admit you are not sure of the truth. But you are sure that your uncle met his end upon Bosworth field, and on the matter of your husband you are sure that you love him. 

At first you were not sure, at first it was not easy, but such is love.

Sweet Elizabeth, daughter of scandal: the fairest of her father’s children by his second marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. They call her ‘common,’ though she is beautiful; they are not audacious enough to call you half-common, because it is only descendancy from the God-chosen King that matters to them. 

There would be more daughters before Elizabeth Woodville gave unto her husband sons, and by then they are talking.

THINGS I PROBABLY DON’T NEED TO WRITE CREATIVELY BUT YOU DO NEED TO KNOW, A SAGA:

Elizabeth of York was the first-born daughter of Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville; she was widely believed to be the fairest of his children. She had two older half-siblings from her mother’s first marriage, and would have nine full-blooded siblings: Mary, Cecily, Edward (V), Margaret, Richard, Anne, George, Catherine, and Bridget. Bold denotes the two ‘Princes in the Tower’ and italics denotes siblings who died in infancy.

In childhood, she was betrothed to the future King Charles VIII of France, but the French failed to keep to their end of the agreement & it was called off. Previously, she had been betrothed to a noble’s son, but this too was repudiated after the father rebelled against Edward.

The former King Henry VI was briefly returned to the throne when Elizabeth was but four years old. Elizabeth, her siblings, and their pregnant mother lived under religious protection until Edward was restored in 1471.

In 1483, Edward IV died, and the unexpected nature of this death & the age of her brother — also named Edward — combined by the ambition for power held by her uncle the Lord Protector ( Richard, Duke of Gloucester ) threw the succession into doubt. Once again, they were forced into sancturary.

Ultimately, both Edward V and the younger Richard disappeared shortly after her uncle took the throne as Richard III, known as the Princes in the Tower, with much credence lent to the theory that they were murdered; the Titulus Regius, in declaring the late King’s controversial — as Elizabeth Woodville was a ‘common’ widower and the marriage secret — marriage invalid, bastardised their children and robbed Elizabeth of York and her siblings of status & rights to succession.

When whispers began of an effort against Richard for the throne, the strongest claim was undoubtedly Elizabeth of York’s own. But there had been no queen that ruled in her own right, and would not for some years, and so Elizabeth Woodville arranged for her to marry the Lancastrian claimant Henry Tudor, who traced his line through a legitimised bastard line. 

It was illegal for a Beaufort to take the throne, but it was agreed that they would support his efforts, perhaps due to Elizabeth’s vitriol toward Richard for the disappearance of her son. Henry vowed to marry Elizabeth in 1483.

Henry Tudor won the battle of Bosworth Field and was crowned Henry VII: he married Elizabeth in January 1486, their first child, Arthur, being born that autumn. 

The marriage initially was politics-born, but they came to love one another deeply, and there is no evidence of the king having kept a mistress. 

FROM DEATH TO “DEATH”

18 March, 1496

The eighteenth of March, fourteen ninety-six, is immortalised in your mind as the day that you died. You were thirty that day — giving birth to your fifth child, Mary — and you are thirty now, utterly untouched by the centuries. 

The death must have lasted mere moments; no one beyond your attentive husband noticed, and it was some time beyond then that the both of you began to believe it. 

It was the tallest of the tales your mother told you in her confinement at Bermondsey before her death four years ago. But when they told you she was dead ( perhaps of plague, demanding a rushed & private ceremony ) it would take a fool not to wonder whether the machinations of Elizabeth Woodville, the queen dowager, would continue from beyond the ‘grave.’

( The Reaper himself surely could not stop so ambitious a woman: and were it not for the king’s mother, perhaps you could have been more like her. You wonder whether you would want to be. )

Time passed, and yet none upon your face. Henry holds you close in anxious murmurings of what they will do to you if you are discovered; whisperings between kisses of witch-burnings. 

You know, though you wish that he was not, that he is right to be afraid.

4 April, 1502

For all the world and time, no worse news could be imagined; the existence of those without faith is one without pity or mercy & you have always tried to keep your love of God intact, but it is oh-so-difficult when the world itself is so malignant as to take your little prince away. 

Why is it, then, that you must live and yet bury your son? Why must his wife live on and yet he must die? You are not a spiteful woman. But even you, in this all-consuming grief, must be allowed your bitterness.

You remind your husband of the grace of God: it does not help you believe it. 

You remind your that you have a son and two daughters, and that Arthur is with God, and it does not help you believe it. 

You remind your husband that you are both young and have time enough yet.

It does not help you believe it.

As soon as you are gone from him, having remained strong for Henry’s sake alone, you buckle, and you wail, and you scream in defiance; it is hopeless, of course, for you to have insisted on sparing him your grief. When you need him, he will always come, until he can no longer.

10th February, 1503

Your newborn daughter Katherine stopped breathing, and something trapped the scream in your throat like a reassurance: some hand over your mouth whispering wait, until the baby girl wailed and began to move again. 

She is too young to have the burden of forever on those tiny shoulders, you think, but did any of you ever get a choice in whether or not you wanted to be Time’s Atlas? You say nothing of the occurrence to anyone bar your dearest beloved, who you trust with an implicitness thought impossible the day you married him. 

How could one of the white rose trust one of the red? 

Your blood still mars the bedsheets, too much of it, dark & damning; they thought the sanguine waterfall would never stem, skin growing paler and paler, until you were a paper ghost. Of course, you knew that you would not die. The doctors didn’t: they call you a miracle. The bells are rung for joy, but when they are gone, there is rue upon your husband’s face. Not long ago, they began to comment upon your unchanging visage, like an ever-fresh flower, and you both knew.

“It won’t be long before—” You press your finger gently to his lips, and he moves it away. “It’s time.”

“I know.”

11th February, 1503

The tower is just barely lit by the sun; you have been here many times before — a highlight of the fact the world still thinks the reality of childbirth, the suffering that comes with a miracle, to be a matter of shame — and he has always hated the separation from you, but this time, in the eyes of the nation ( he will deceive even his mother ) you will not leave it alive. 

Cast your gaze back over your shoulder, and ask the most natural question of the immortal race: how did you get here? 

To this liminal space, this balancing-act, between the past ( for this home of yours will be your past, your life with him will be your past, but your love for him will be your present, your tomorrow, and your always ) and forever? Can you process the endlessness of it — of forever — my love, where so many empires, overestimating their longevity, have failed; can you understand, darling, that you will watch the crumbling demise of so many more without him? 

( When you see his vision misted over with tears, is your husband still the most beautiful, lovable thing you have ever beheld? He is. He is, and no matter how the centuries pass — no matter how many kings, queens and vagabonds you lay eyes upon — he always will be; they will brand him a penny-pincher and a miser as loss haunts him, but you will remember him like this, in the most pain he has and will ever be in, but selfless anyway, because here’s the kicker they all forget: he loves you. )

“My Lizzie,” he murmurs to you, kisses the backs of your fingers, and it is a vow. Even in the depths of his pre-emptive sorrow, he looks up. His mother always says he was God-chosen to be king, but it has always been you who puts him on his knees. “Happy Birthday.”

You promise yourself then — ruminating on the fact you have never had an unhappier birthday than this — that you will never forget it.

LIFE AFTER “DEATH” ( POST-1503 )

As is hinted, Henry knew of Elizabeth’s immortality & assisted her in faking her “death.”

Elizabeth has had a long time to live. 

The sole large expense never recorded in the royal books by Henry was to send her away and give her a life of means: the most painful act her husband ever undertook, but which he did because he loved her so dearly. Henry never remarried: though he spoke of it ( had to, because his wife was ostensibly dead ) he staved it off with the instructions he gave to those searching for a second wife. 

Hint: they perfectly described Elizabeth.

For some time, the parted couple sent letters, before they deemed even that a risk to their wellbeing.

Elizabeth was once a pious woman. She is not, anymore: an eternity of time and of watching all die around her will rob any woman of her faith. She was renowned for gentleness and generosity, and that is not entirely lost upon her, but the same grief that forged the Winter King from Henry has touched her, too. 

She is more cynical, more bitter, but she is still trying. It was necessary for her to change: even at first, knowing she had forever to live, she had to force herself to accept the life Henry gave her & not bequeath her money to others who needed it more, as suddenly she needed it to maintain her own life throughout the centuries.

Throughout her life, though, this attitude has meant she has built up enough money to both give comfortably and be comfortable. For example, now, she is both heavily charitable but lives in Belgravia.

Many lives have passed: in just one, for example, she has been a teacher, just as she was to her son Henry. She has settled in this life on a political aide, so she can more obviously move the world. 

The years have made her more ambitious.

She just hopes she will find hope — and her husband, because she knows that if he were dead he would feel it in her heart — before she indelibly becomes the Winter Queen.

TRIVIA ( some things I love & a note on some I have elected to ignore )

Obligatory note that I would sell my soul for someone to play James McAvoy as Henry VII.

Among other things, the Queen from “Sing A Song Of Sixpence” is reportedly Elizabeth of York, and Henry is the King counting his money. 

However, Henry’s penny-pinching nature only blossomed after Elizabeth’s death ( or in this case ‘death’ ) and prior to that death he was very liberal in spending money upon his wife and family. 

Elizabeth may also have inspired the Queen of Hearts on modern-day playing cards.

She was particularly tall for Tudor women — perhaps inherited from her father — as most were much shorter than five-foot six or seven. 

History believes Elizabeth had little political influence, but that perhaps is not so true as they believe. 

It is true that Margaret Beaufort exercised a grand deal of influence and was loudly opinionated, but Elizabeth was able to influence matters through gentle whispers in her husband’s ear, and through love. She did not live for the applause: never had done. Elizabeth was known to be heavily charitable. So why would she make fanfare of her achievements in her husband’s court?

I know Henry VIII isn’t allowed, but Elizabeth would bitch slap him. She would. It has to be said.

[mengineerus]

History notes

The origin of the Abbey on Thorney Island.

https://www.hiddenhydrology.org/london-barton-the-lost-rivers-of-london/   &   http://thethorneyislandsociety.org.uk/ttis/index.php/thorney-tales/35-thorney-tales-2-the-river-tyburn

Thorney Island, originally known as the Isle of Thorns from the brambles covering it, encompassed the area of Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Parliament Square. It was not the only island on the Thames (Chelsea, Battersea & Bermondsey Islands), but came to be the most important.

In 43BC the Romans arrived. It is believed that some of their original roads Old Kent Road & Edgeware Road met on either side of the Thames at Thorney, which would have made that a spot of great significance.

There are very few records from before the 10th century. It is likely that Christian settlers would have build a small church here. When the Danish king Cnute the Great invaded the land, he built a palace next to this church. His son, Harold Harefoot, was the first to be buried in the church in 1040. However, his brother & successor Harthacnut had his remains dug up and thrown into the Thames.

It was Edward the Confessor (1042) who made Westminster a place of national importance. Exiled to Normandy, he vowed to make a trip to St. Peter’s church in Rome when he came back. He did in fact return but was not able to make the journey. The pope released him from his vow on condition he built a monastery dedicated to St. Peter. And so, Edward rebuilt the church Thorney in the Norman style he had seen in France.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/history-of-westminster-abbey

It was the first church in England to be built in the shape of a cross. With St. Paul’s (the ‘minster’ to the East), to distinguish it, St. Peter’s started to be known as ‘West minster’. In 1065, the church was ready to be concentrated, however, its builder fell ill. Before his death, Edward granted the minster many privileges; he named it a Royal Peculiar (under no control: responsible only to the sovereign).

Notes from listening to Way2GoGuides ‘Thorney Island’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmAQEwzEou8)