August’s Flower: the death of a medieval tightrope walker

This month’s flower comes from the catalogue of Locelli in the Durham Cathedral Muniments (Loc. VI.20), and seems to record the death of a 13th-century tightrope walker, performing on the towers of Durham Cathedral! The record concerns the King Henry III’s objections to the election of of a new bishop. It seems the the […]

‘Modyr Nakett’ (Mother Naked)

Each month, we will post an amusing, interesting, or noteworthy entry drawn from the growing REED-NE evidence. This month’s ‘flower’: ‘Modyr Nakett’ In the Durham Priory Bursar’s annual account running from 11th November for 1433-1434, a number of payments are recorded as having been made to various entertainers, including an entry for 4 pence given […]