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Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
St Swithun's Church, Leadenham is in Leadenham, North Kesteven [Map], Churches in Lincolnshire.
Exterior of St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map].
Rectors of St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map].
Interior of St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map].
Vicarage of St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map].
After 1624. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Grave slab of Elizabeth Clinton (deceased).
Elizabeth Clinton: John Beresford and she were married. She the daughter of Thomas Clinton 3rd Earl Lincoln and Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln. In 1592 she was born to Thomas Clinton 3rd Earl Lincoln and Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln. In 1624 Elizabeth Clinton died.
After 1752. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Grave Slab of William Key (age 64) and Ann Wife of William Key and their son Thomas died 1730.
William Key: Around 1688 he was born. In or before 1717 he and Ann Wife of William Key were married. On 1st May 1752 he died.
Ann Wife of William Key: Around 1689 she was born. On 21st October 1729 she died.
After 1st May 1752. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Memorial to William Key (deceased)
After 1756. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Grave Slab of Ellis Key (age 37)
Ellis Key: Around 1719 he was born. On 25th December 1756 he died.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
After 1808. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Grave slab of Jane Reeve (deceased).
Jane Reeve: Around 1785 she was born to William Reeve of Leadenham and Millicent Mary King. In 1808, on the 3rd day of an unknown month, she died.
After 20th December 1820. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Monument to William Reeve of Leadenham (deceased) and Millicent Mary King (age 65).
William Reeve of Leadenham: Around 1751 he was born to William Reeve of Melton Mowbray. Before 28th July 1783 he and Millicent Mary King were married. On 20th December 1820 he died.
Millicent Mary King: Around 1755 she was born to John King of Ashby in Lincolnshire and Millicent Mary Unknown. On 23rd May 1836 she died.
After 1835. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Memorial to Charlotte wife of Reverend Thomas Brown.
After 1835. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Memorial to Christopher Beresford.
Christopher Beresford: On 8th June 1652 he was born to William Beresford of Leadenham and Margaret Thorold. On 16th January 1717 he died.
1841. Chancel ceiling of St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map] hand painted by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in 1841.
After 28th October 1853. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Monument to Reverend William Key Reeve (deceased).
Reverend William Key Reeve: Around 1784 he was born to William Reeve of Leadenham and Millicent Mary King. On 28th October 1853 he died.
After 1856. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Memorial to Jane Sherard (age 56).
Jane Sherard: On 21st June 1799 she was born to Philip Sherard 5th Earl Harborough. On 18th December 1856 Jane Sherard died.
After 20th October 1858. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Monument to Frances Wilhelmina Welby (deceased) and Frances Susan Reeve by Thomas Gaffin.
Frances Wilhelmina Welby: On 13th April 1832 she was born to Glynne Earl Welby 3rd Baronet and Frances Cholmeley. Before 9th October 1858 Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Reeve and she were married. On 20th October 1858 Frances Wilhelmina Welby died eleven days after giving birth to her daughter Frances Susan Reeve.
Frances Susan Reeve: On 9th October 1858 she was born to Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Reeve and Frances Wilhelmina Welby. Her mother died eleven days later. On 12th March 1864 she died.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
After 2nd October 1864. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Monument to General John Reeve of Leadenham House (deceased) and Susan Sherard (deceased).
General John Reeve of Leadenham House: On 28th July 1783 he was born to William Reeve of Leadenham and Millicent Mary King. In or before 1816 he and Susan Sherard were married. She the daughter of Philip Sherard 5th Earl Harborough. On 2nd October 1864 he died.
Susan Sherard: On 1st July 1802 she was born to Philip Sherard 5th Earl Harborough. On 3rd September 1864 Susan Sherard died.
After 19th November 1868. St Swithun's Church, Leadenham [Map]. Monument to Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Reeve (deceased).
Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Reeve: Around 1827 he was born to General John Reeve of Leadenham House. On 19th November 1868 he died.