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THE KATHERINE SWYNFORD SOCIETY ANNUAL STUDY DAYSATURDAY 9TH MAY 2026
The County Assembly Rooms
Bailgate
Lincoln
LN1 3AR
10AM – 4PM
REGISTRATION WITH REFRESHMENTS FROM 9-30 AM
10 am A very warm welcome from the Society
10.15 am Discussions/networking with attendees
11 am Comfort break
11.15 am Helen Castor ‘Bolingbroke Castle: Henry IV’
Helen Castor is a historian of the middle ages and sixteenth century, a Bye-Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Among her impressive list of published works are two particularly related to John of Gaunt’s eldest son, Duchess Katherine’s stepson, Henry of Bolingbroke, who of course became Henry IV.
The King, the Crown and the Duchy of Lancaster: Public Authority and Private Power 1399-1461 (OUP, 2000) examines the complex relationship between the king, the crown and the Duchy of Lancaster at both a national and a local level, focusing particularly on the north midlands and East Anglia and, in so doing, sheds light on the nature and functioning of the late medieval English monarchy.
The Eagle and the Hart: the Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV (2024, hardback: Allen Lane; paperback: Penguin) looks at these two cousins who were born about three months apart. Richard was born to be king, but was insecure, showed strong signs of narcissism, sought absolute power, but lacked qualities to inspire loyalty. Henry was not born to be king, but was charismatic, and had the qualities and abilities to inspire loyalty and confidence in his ability to be king. Helen’s book scrutinises their respective lives, the tensions between them and puts them into the wider context.
12.30 pm LUNCH in the Assembly Rooms – included in Fees
1.30 pm Sharon Bennett Connolly ‘Katherine and her Daughter Joan’
Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, ‘in recognition of her contribution to historical scholarship. She studied history academically and for enjoyment, and has worked as a tour guide at historical sites.
Her husband gave Sharon her own blog at Christmas 2024, the much admired, respected and enjoyed ‘History…the Interesting Bits’. Sharon is also a published author of fiction and non-fiction. Among her non-fiction is ‘Heroines of the Medieval World’ (Amberley, 2017) which examines the lives and actions of medieval women and how they were carefully controlled and restricted by the men who ruled the homes, countries and world they lived in.
2.30 pm A Guided walk around the Cathedral Close or pay at Cathedral for a guided/self-guided walk including KS tomb.
3.30 pm Tea and biscuits in Assembly Rooms.
4.15pm CLOSE OF DAY
Members £35 Non Members £45
To book, email KSS Treasurer and Secretary Karyn Agrali: [email protected]
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Event Venue
The Lincoln County Assembly Rooms, 76 Bailgate ,Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Tickets
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