The Saxon legend of Melangell is haunting and beautiful, and not often told. The first I ever heard of the saint was after some people I knew visited Pennant Melangell in Wales. At the village's church, as curious ghost hunters, they left a tape recorder recording during their visit. When they played it back, they claimed to have heard the unmistakable whisper of 'Melangell' crackling out from the machine's speakers, which they had not heard while inside the church. Whether you believe in this or not, the legend of this impressive woman is thick with strength, resistance and faith.

Photo by Natalia Sobolivska on Unsplash

Melangell was the daughter of an Irish king. Despite choosing to remain unmarried for life, she was promised as a bride by her father to a member of his nobility. Running away, she lived on the lands near Pennant Melangell for fifteen years without being discovered. However in 604AD a man named Brochwel Yscythrog, Prince of Powys and owner of the lands, was hunting nearby when he followed the path of a darting hare and found Melangell in a thicket of brambles. With her was the hare he had been chasing, sheltering under her gown, but staring back at him, unafraid of his dogs. Brochwel was shocked to see Melangell so devoutly at prayer and living on his estate by herself, and even more shocked when his dogs refused to snatch the animal from her. They talked, and Melangell told him all about her story and why she had chosen to live in the countryside in secret, to escape her fate. The prince, sympathetic to her, granted her some property of her own and instructed her to build an abbey, so that others could find sanctuary in the same way that she had. She founded the nearby church, and the village was named Pennant Melangell in her honour. Dying in her eighties, she is buried in the church, which quickly became a shrine to her memory throughout the medieval period. She also seems to have gained wider fame later on. The eighteenth-century writer Thomas Pennant remembered being shown the actual bed Melangell slept in while living on Brochwel's land, 'in the cleft of a neighbouring rock'. 

St Melangell's Church, via Wikimedia Commons by Rosser1954, CC BY 4.0

Sadly, any trace of Melangell's tomb or any of the decorations which once were laid there have been removed. However medieval carvings at the church record the legend, including depictions of hares as well as Melangell herself. She is also known as St Monacella. Pennant revealed that in the 1600s, locals were too afraid to hunt for hares in the parish because of her spiritual influence, and in the 1700s, they believed that if any hare was chased, a shout  of 'God and St Monacella be with thee' would save its life. Descriptions of the fifteenth-century carvings were recorded in the nineteenth century by a local reverend, and include Melangell standing with a foliated crozier and a veiled headdress in her capacity as abbess at the church here. He also took care to note that she is depicted larger than the prince and the huntsman, signifying a heightened importance, as she sits on a red cushion.

A tale of early Christianity, women's strength and strong resistance to the ideals and expectations of the time, Melangell's story is one we should remember. It is a tantalising view of a Saxon-era legend, but also reveals the fifteenth-century residents that put their hopes on the saint, depicting her and her assertiveness inside their church. 

Liked this? You might also like: The Welsh Legend of Nelferch, 10 British Castles to Visit by Train and The Warrior Women of the Wars of the Roses.

You might also like my book Forgotten Women of the Wars of the Roses, published by Pen and Sword. 

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Source: Archaeologica Cambrensis, Volume 3, London, 1847

Looking through the Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic of the reign of Henry VIII for a special piece of research, I came across this entry of 1537, detailing some of the jewellery owned by Jane Seymour. Jane was Henry's third wife, who died tragically shortly after the birth of her son Edward, at Hampton Court Palace. After her death Henry was plunged into grief, and there are mentions in private letters of him not wanting to see anyone, and even less marry again, despite his reputation today as an enthusiastic bridegroom. Shortly after Jane's death, an enquiry was made into the jewels she owned and if she had gifted any. Special mention was made as to the recipients of any of the jewels. All this information was detailed in 'A book of the Quenes juelles'.

Not only does this short document show us the different types of jewellery Jane owned and wore, but reveals some of her alliances within the court. She gave strings of beads to women such as Margaret Douglas (the king' niece), and also to Lady Mary, her stepdaughter. The women mentioned were ' lady Bewham, (sic), lady Duddeley, lady Weston, lady Page, lady Douglas, lady Norfolk, lady Calthrope, lady Lyell, lady Lyster, Mrs. Oxenbryg, lady Guldeford, lady Audeley, lady Mary'.

Jane Seymour. New York Public Library Digital Collections, Public Domain.

She was also recorded as giving other jewels, pomanders and tablets to the Lady Mary as well as to Henry's second daughter the Lady Elizabeth, from his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Jane is well known for her accommodating and friendly attitude towards Mary, the daughter of Henry and Katherine of Aragon, but her gifts to Elizabeth show that she was also friendly towards her. This is often overlooked, and Jane perceived as dismissive to the four-year old daughter of Anne Boleyn, the queen she supplanted in Henry's affections. The list of men and women who received similar gifts were: 'lady Lister, Mrs. Oxenbrygge, Mr. Knyffet, lady Rocheford, lady Russell, Mr. Longe. lady Marquis Dorset'. It was also noted that Jane had owned 'A glass with the images of the King's father and others', showing that she wore, or held, images of her father-in-law Henry VII.

Jane also gifted a girdle, an (often jewelled) chain that hung around the waist, to the Countess of Surrey 'at the christening of her child'. Gertrude Courtenay Marchioness of Exeter also received a girdle as a gift from the queen. Once again, the lady Mary makes an appearance here. We also see that Jane owned several brooches made of gold, and the gifts of these are more widespread. Her brother Thomas Seymour received one from her, as did 'Cutberd the King's poticarie', an apothecary of the court. This may have been given as a gift in thanks for his service to Henry or for herself. Elizabeth Cavendish, later to become Bess of Hardwick, also received one, as did the Lady Elizabeth (future Elizabeth I) on New Year's Day. 'Palmer the Lord Privy Seal's servant' also received one (a servant of Thomas Cromwell). Here's the full list: 'A catalogue of "brouches of gold," some given to Mr. Thomas Seamowre, Mr. Hennage, Guilliam the brotherer, Cutberd the King's poticarie, the lady Shelston, Palmer the lord Privy Seal's servant, Fras. Elmam, Eliz. Cavindishe, Dr. Benteley, Dr. Augustine, Mr. Russell, Mr. Browne, Mr. Carowe, lord Zouche, Mr. Pownes, Ant. Denny, lady Musgrave, Cruche, the lady Grey, Mrs. Eliz. Darsye, lady Elizabeth at New year's day'. Jane also gifted gold buttons, bracelets and chains to members of her household and to people present at court, although these are not individually detailed in the publication, at least as it appears in the transcript of Letters and Papers.

Gifts of jewels were important, and could be given to gain trust, support and promote friendship. Jane's widespread giving of items to the apothecary, ladies of the court and servants of important men suggest that she was likely working to secure backing as a relatively new queen in a turbulent court. She only ruled for little over a year - from May 1536 to October 1537.

Liked this? You might also like: Will the Real Jane Seymour Please Stand Up, Who Was Henry VIII's Favourite Wife?, and Entertaining Henry VIII: His Visit to Wolf Hall in 1538.

Interested in Tudor history? You might also like my second book, Power Couples of the Tudor Era, published by Pen and Sword Books, which explores the contributions couples made to their own times as well as how they influenced our own. Edward and Anne Seymour are one of the couple explored in depth. 

Order your copy here. 

The Tudors are famous for creative expression, art and the theatre during their reigns. But the English Renaissance started a lot earlier than 1485. Find out more in my book Power Couples of the Renaissance. It features relationship dynamics that went against accepted norms of the period and power-hungry couples who ruled, fought and spread the patronage of art, science and culture across the globe during one of the most tumultuous periods of history. Find it on the Pen and Sword Books website. 

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Source: Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic. James Gairdner. Volume 12, Part 2. London, 1891. Page 340.

We live quite close to Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire (ok, a 30 minute train ride away) and although I've visited the museum when the children were little, we've never actually done the proper visit around the town. 

Henley is right on the riverside, with the Thames lapping under its bridges and against riverboat moorings. When we arrived, in February 2026, it was even more so, after a season of heavy rain causing the river to swell and trickle under the benches of The Angel pub and restaurant nearby. We had a walk around the shops, dropped off our bags at our hotel and then decided to pop out for some lunch. 

The Bull Inn by N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We really loved the time we spent at The Bull, the food was honestly great and the staff were friendly and happy to recommend dishes we'd like, from the menu. It's just a short stroll from the river from New Street and then turn left into Bell Street. Walking this way, you really get a sense of Henley's historic past, via fifteenth century cottages Anne Boleyn's Cottage and Tudor Cottage and the other historic structures you pass as you go. Another historic pub I'd absolutely recommend. Thank you to The Bull on Bell Street for looking after us so nicely. 

Liked this? You might also like: The Stonor Family of Henley on Thames During the Wars of the Roses, The 1474 Inventory of Stonor Park and 10 Things to Know About Stratford on Avon Before You Visit.

Interested in the Wars of the Roses? My first book explores the roles of women from all sectors of fifteenth century society and the impact they had on the Wars of the Roses conflict. Many of the Stonor family from Henley on Thames are discussed, and we peer around various women's homes and surroundings through evidence in their inventories and wills. Order your copy here. 

The Bull on Bell Street was standing during an important period in the development of England's science, culture and the arts. Find out more in my book Power Couples of the Renaissance. It features relationship dynamics that went against accepted norms of the period and power-hungry couples who ruled, fought and spread the patronage of art, science and culture across the globe during one of the most tumultuous periods of history. Find it on the Pen and Sword Books website. 

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