Helen Matthews – författare

An in-depth look at the lives of illegitimate children and their parents in England in the later Middle Ages.   For the nobility and gentry in later medieval England, land was a source of wealth and status. Their marriages were arranged with this in mind, and it is not surprising that so many of them had mistresses and illegitimate children. John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, married at the age of twenty to a ten-year-old granddaughter of Edward I, had at least eight bastards and a complicated love life.   In theory, bastards were at a considerable disadvantage. Regarded as ‘filius nullius’ or the son of no one, they were unable to inherit real property and barred from the priesthood. In practice, illegitimacy could be less of a stigma in late medieval England than it became between the sixteenth and late twentieth centuries. There were ways of making provision for illegitimate offspring and some bastards did extremely well—in the church, through marriage, as soldiers, and a few even succeeding to the family estates.  The Legitimacy of Bastards is the first book to consider the individuals who had illegitimate children, the ways in which they provided for them and attitudes towards both the parents and the bastard children. It also highlights important differences between the views of illegitimacy taken by the Church and by the English law.  “Informative and well researched . . . A great resource for those who want to learn more about the late medieval period and illegitimate children.” —Adventures of a Tudor Nerd

An in-depth look at the lives of illegitimate children and their parents in England in the later Middle Ages. For the nobility and gentry in later medieval England, land was a source of wealth and status. Their marriages were arranged with this in mind, and it is not surprising that so many of them had mistresses and illegitimate children. John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, married at the age of twenty to a ten-year-old granddaughter of Edward I, had at least eight bastards and a complicated love life. In theory, bastards were at a considerable disadvantage. Regarded as 'filius nullius' or the son of no one, they were unable to inherit real property and barred from the priesthood. In practice, illegitimacy could be less of a stigma in late medieval England than it became between the sixteenth and late twentieth centuries. There were ways of making provision for illegitimate offspring and some bastards did extremely well in the church, through marriage, as soldiers, and a few even succeeding to the family estates. The Legitimacy of Bastards is the first book to consider the individuals who had illegitimate children, the ways in which they provided for them and attitudes towards both the parents and the bastard children. It also highlights important differences between the views of illegitimacy taken by the Church and by the English law. "e;Informative and well researched . . . A great resource for those who want to learn more about the late medieval period and illegitimate children."e; Adventures of a Tudor Nerd

History and heritage are among Britain's greatest passions. Travel writers and historians Helen and Neil Matthews have selected 52 places that are wonderful examples of natural, architectural, industrial or cultural heritage. Some are neglected or under-rated and deserve more attention. Others are famous locations waiting to be enjoyed from new perspectives. Heritage Weekends is here to help you explore and indulge your passion for Britain's past: from the Prehistoric era, through ancient, medieval, Tudor, Regency and Victorian times to the 20th century. With their inspirational guide you'll meet some of our greatest creative geniuses, monarchs and heroes, eccentrics and legends, giants and saints. And you'll find everything from the world's most famous map to a vision of Hell!As well as detailed descriptions of the sites, Heritage Weekends includes suggested itineraries, directions and top tips for accommodation and eating out. England, Wales, Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man are all covered, with weekends divided into in-depth and shorter entries. All weekends include detailed information on how to get there, as well as suggestions for further places to visit if you have time to spare. From St Albans' Roman remains at Verulamium to Avebury's stone circle, Windsor Castle to York's Jorvik Centre, Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon to the Neolithic sights of Orkney, there's more than enough to entice, stimulate and entertain. Chester's impressive city walls are also included, as is Portmeirion, the war tunnels and underground hospital on Jersey, and Margate's mysterious Shell Grotto. Literary buffs can explore Jane Austen's Bath or visit the home of Sir Walter Scott at romantic Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders. Ideal for all the family, whatever your interest, Bradt's Heritage Weekends lets you create your own magical tour of Britain.

Part of Bradt's distinctive, award-winning series of 'Slow' travel guides to UK regions, the new, thoroughly updated second edition of The Chilterns and Thames Valley (Slow Travel) celebrates this charming, popular English region close to London. Written with intimate detail and insider tips by two locals, it is the only guidebook to provide in-depth coverage of this region, which is shared between the counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.Divided into six user-friendly sections, Bradt's The Chilterns and Thames Valley lifts the lid on what makes this area so distinctive. Chalk grasslands, beech woods, streams, one of the world's most famous rivers and wooded valleys provide perfect landscapes for walking - and are easily accessible from London. About half of the region has been designated as a 'National Landscape' - the closest such designation to London, and justifying this edition's inclusion of several new walking routes. Rare plants such as fleawort and various orchids, and birds including red kite, lapwing and skylark flourish. Millions of people know the Chilterns via TV and films, as world-famous studios have created murder, mayhem, historical drama and horror here; this is Midsomer Murders country. In the Chilterns you find key sites of monarchical and parliamentary power such as Windsor Castle and Chequers, and the location of Magna Carta's sealing (Runnymede). Many well-loved authors have lived and written here, depicting Paradise, defining our childhoods and painting timeless images of England and its people. Eminent chefs own restaurants with national, even international, reputations: the village of Bray alone hosts two of Britain's eight triple-Michelin-starred restaurants.The Chilterns and the Thames Valley (together with the Vale of Aylesbury) represent a wonderfully paradoxical mixture of world-famous tourist sites and lesser-known attractions full of quirkiness and character, which will repay the visitor's interest and attention many times over. From Windsor Castle to Whipsnade Zoo, Britain's oldest road (The Ridgeway) to National Trust properties such as Cliveden and Waddesdon, the Henley Regatta to the Grand Union Canal, Bradt's The Chilterns and Thames Valley (Slow Travel) is your perfect travelling companion to this enchanting area.