First Post The Past

In between writing about King Stephen's abortive attempt to oust his vassal John Marshal from Marlborough Castle in September 1139, I am stumbling through the intricacies of setting up my first blog. It's been something I've been meaning to do for a while. Sometimes there are things I want to say that don't fit neatly into the subject matters of the e-loops to which I belong.
As the name of my blog suggests, many of my meanderings will be concerned with the research I do for my historical novels, but I may occasionally stroll off to explore other subjects as my whim and interest take me.
To keep my first post reasonably on topic and before I return to the face to face between Stephen and John, I thought I'd mention the research book currently occupying my bedside table. It's Ludgershall Castle: Excavations by Peter Addyman 1964-1972. John Marshal had custody of Ludgershall during the mid twelfth century and it's exciting looking at the finds that date to his period of occupation. I particularly like a hawthorn wood box with a ring and dot decoration of animal rib bones on the outside. One can imagine it sitting on a coffer in his chamber for use by him or his wife - and then one can write....