RECALLING ENGLISH HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 26

RECALLING ENGLISH HISTORY

In a hut of wattle and daub lived a Queen who claimed half a kingdom, was beaten with rods as a "turbulent woman," raised an army that is reputed to have slain within a week 70,000 Romans and Romanised Britons- —England's greatest holocaust—and, finally, defeated, committed suicide.

She was Boadicea. Queen, of the Iceni, A.D. 61, and a hut of the kind in which she may have camped in the Eastern Counties before she put the Roman garrisons at Colchester, St. Alban's, and London to the sword, will be shown at the forthcoming "Daily Mail" Ideal Home Exhibition in the "Rooms of the Monarchs," one of the many brilliant special features in preparation for the ever popular event at Olympia, Kensington, W.

The hut will be reproduced, with a loom and furniture which are exact replicas of those of the period, by permission of Father Ward, of the Abbey Folk Park, New Barnet, from examples in his possession.

Pottery of the time, as sent in to Britain from Gaul and extensively used during the Roman occupation, wilj be copied from Samian Ware in the British Museum. . . ■

Stirring days in English history will be recalled by the romantic surroundings of other outstanding personalities among our Kings and Queens, which are to be reconstructed in authentic detail at the Ideal Home Exhibition.

A finely timbered Saxon Hall, rough hewn from trees and ingeniously fitted together, was a residence of Alfred the Great. . .

It will be re-created from a drawing approved by ( the authorities of the British Museum, who have also granted permission for copies of Saxon shields, weapons, and other gear to be made from examples in the Museum.

At this date it is interesting to recall that the first Crown of England, supposed to have been used for the Coronation of Alfred at Winchester and afterwards for the Coronation of all

successive kings to Charles I, was destroyed by Cromwell.

In a stone hall, beautified with massive pillars and groined roof, in the Old Priory of Winchester, Edward 1 (Longshanks) stayed for a time.

This exceptionally fine room now forms part of the residence of Canon Edward Moor in the Close, Winchester, and by his courtesy and co-operation the exhibition management are enabled to reproduce it.

Henry V spent many thrilling days in the Court Room at Southampton, a room half timbered, with great fireplace and oaken gallery. It was his headquarters before embarking on his French campaign which culminated at Agincourt.

.It was in this room, too, that the plot to assassinate him was brought to light. The conspirators—Henry's cousin, Richard Earl of Cambridge, Lord Scrope of Masham, and Sir .Thomas Grey—were later tried in this very hall .and taken therefrom to execution.

Dated 1415, and today, the feature of Ye Olde Redde Lyone Hotel in the High Street. Henry V's room is reproduced by courtesy of Mrs. R. Hopkins.

By special permission of the Lord Chamberlain, a replica of the beautiful linenfold panelled room at Hampton Court Palace, known as Cardinal Wolsey's apartment, will also be included in the "Rooms of the Monarchs." It was the favourite room of Queen Elizabeth during her residence at the palace.

■ In the King's Manor, York, is a room with a fine mullioned window and great fireplace beloved of Charles- I, who stayed there with Earl Strafford as late as 1640. It formed part of the abbot's house of St. Mary's Monastery, just outside the city walls, and will be shown at Olympia by courtesy of the . Rev. C. F. Hardy, principal .of the Blind School.: . ,

This un»4|ue series of Royal rooms will be completed with a notable example from the Regency period.