Tudor House and the Royal Family

Introduction

Tudor House is over 500 years old – well parts of it are. In that time it has seen many Kings and Queens come and go. Some, however, had a direct influence or contact with the buildings. In this Platinum Jubilee blog special we describe some of the royals who are part of the colourful story that made what is Tudor House Museum today. The oldest parts of the buildings date from the reign of Henry VII. These are those hidden behind the early 20th century façade of present day number 38. However, that’s a far too tenuous link to be of interest here. Our story therefore starts with his son, Henry.
 

Henry VIII

Henry is infamous for his actions during the dissolution of the monasteries and the reformation that followed. However, having completed the task of taking the wealth of the monasteries, there was still left untouched considerable ecclesiastical property and wealth. He turned his attention to colleges, churches, chantries, hospitals, brotherhoods and guilds. At first he simply ordered each to supply details of their wealth and property. This lead to the Chantries Act of 1545, allowing him to sequester anything he felt was excessive to their needs. The wording of Henry’s decree on this reflect his thinking:

“all the doctrine and vain opinion in purgatory and the Masses that were held within”

Prior to 1545 what was to become number 38 Friar Street was owned by the chantry of The Blessed Mary and Saint Katharine. This was within St Helen’s church on the High Street, probably as a side chapel. Owning number 38 did not have any religious function. Its sole purpose was to generate revenue in the form of rents to pay for priests to say masses for the dead.

The chantry was inspected by Henry’s lackies and under the Chantries Act had its property seized by the crown. This took place probably around 1546. Thus it, and several other Worcester properties, became owned by the monarch. Henry VIII, therefore, once owned (part of) Tudor House. There is no evidence to suggest, nor any reason to believe, that Henry ever visited. Moreover, he probably did not even know he owned it.

Edward VI

When Henry VIII died in 1547 he was succeeded by his son Edward VI. Henry’s lands and possessions passed on to Edward. One such possession was, of course, the houses in Worcester – part of Tudor House included. So that is not just one but TWO monarchs who had their hands on our museum!

With Henry’s death the English education system was left in a poor state. Edward recognised this (or more accurately his royal council of advisors did). A number of “free grammar schools” across the country were formed to rectify this. To fund these new schools Edward granted them lands and property, the rents from which would continue year on year to supply an income. Property was better than a cash endowment. It was a safer investment against price inflation than mere cash in hand.

One of these schools was a grammar school in Stourbridge. In a charter of 1552 for the setting up of the King Edward VI School Stourbridge it grants, amongst other things:

All these messuages
lands
meadowes
pastures
et cetera
then lately in the tenure of three persons therein mentioned situate in the city of Worcester formerly belonging to the charities of
The Blessed Mary
and
Saint Katharine

Mary Tudor

We now go for the hat-trick (or maybe that should be a royal flush?). Our story continues with the next monarch in line Queen Mary (her of the “bloody” prefix). NB We omit Lady Jane Grey not just out of convenience but although she was titular Queen for nine days she was never invested. Neither, it is argued, was her claim legal. Henry VIII had set out the succession in a bill to parliament in 1543. Edward VI was in the process of doing similar in Jane’s favour but died before the act could become law.

In 1555 Queen Mary Tudor signed a charter re-affirming the function, rights and role of the Worcester Corporation. This lengthy and very legally jargoned document includes a section naming the officials in office at that time. One of those men is a John Cottryl. The Cottryl name is ever associated with Tudor House as there is firm documentary evidence that the family once lived there. Given the date of 1555 this must surely have been the John Cottryl of Friar Street who died the following year.

This John Cottryl may well have been the man who had our fine timber framed houses built. He must have felt very proud to have his name on a royal charter. Maybe he even thought the Cottryl family had reached a zenith and it would take something out of the ordinary to beat it. If so then he’d have been astonished when within 20 years one of his descendants did just that!
 

Elizabeth I

After the death of Mary Tudor in 1558 the throne was taken by good old Queen Bess – aka Elizabeth I, daughter of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth had a lasting impact on England as a whole and directly on Worcester too. During her visit in August 1575 she was so impressed with a pear tree laden with black pears that she suggested it be used on the city’s coat of arms. The tree in question had been moved from the gardens at White Ladies to by the Foregate Street gate, through which the queen entered the city.

It was during this visit that she would have been served by not one but two former residents at Tudor House.

“Old” John Cottryl – Alderman Sergeant

Like his namesake and forebear, John Cottryl was active in the Worcester Corporation at that time. In 1558 he was elected as Alderman Sergeant – a role for which the duties are a little unclear. The same 1555 Mary I Charter that was mentioned above gives a little light on the role of the Corporation sergeants:

There shall be 4 serjeants at mace for the execution of process and other business in the city and they shall be attendant from time to time upon the bailiffs; also an officer to be called the aldermen’s serjeant to be attendant upon them for the execution of process and other business belonging to the aldermen’s office

The event was hosted by the Bishop, Nicholas Bullingham (himself with ties to one of the museum properties in Friar street). Organisation was, to a large degree, done by the Corporation. A full description of the events of said visit can be found in the Chamber Order book. One paragraph is particularly pertinent to John Cottryl:

And the said Baylyffes, Aldermen, Orator and the High Chamberlayne, having their horses reddy by the five sergiauntes appareled all in one livery of Turkye color…

Earlier it was described how the 1555 Charter defined four sergeants of the mace and a single Aldermen’s sergeant. So John must, it appears, be one of the five referred to. Our John was right in the thick of the pomp and prestige of that day in 1575 when the Queen entered the city.

Harry Smythe alias Sherman

Katherine Smythe lived in number 38 at the turn of the 17th century. The will of Harry Smythe (husband of Katherine Smythe) lists amongst his affects a number of musical instruments and books. These he leaves to “his boys”. It is believed that these suggest Harry was a musician and/or music teacher.

In the name of God amen, I Harry Smythe of the city of Worcester in the parish of St Helens being of a good and perfect memory, do make this my last will and Testament … I give unto my boys all my instruments both vyalls1, recorders and their books upon consideration that they will use their selves well towards their dame.

Quite possibly he would have been associated with the town wait. This was a kind of town band who would have played at weddings and important ceremonies.

Although Harry died in 1575 he was still alive in August of that year and so would have witnessed the Queen’s visit. If he was a musician then he would have undoubtedly played some part in the pomp that surrounded the occasion. He and his band may well have played for the Queen herself. His inventory includes two gowns of some value. They may have been personal items of clothing but equally could have been associated with the waits.

Charles II

Our continuous streak of monarchs ends at the demise of the Tudor dynasty. Of the first three Stuart kings we can find no stories linking them to Friar Street. So we jump forward 76 years to 1651 and the second battle of Worcester.

The battle is well and fully documented elsewhere so we will only précis it here. After an ill-fated attempt to gain an advantage over Cromwell’s forces outside the city, Charles was forced to flee back behind the city walls. Here the Royalist troops were already starting to lay down their arms in defeat. As nightfall descended, Worcester’s defences were stormed by the parliamentarians. Cromwell finally broke into the city and Charles was forced to flee. His route from his entry point at the Sidbury gate to his escape via the northern St Martin’s gate would have taken him along Sidbury, Friar Street and New Street.

Telling Evidence

When renovations were made to Tudor House in the early 1900s telling evidence of the fierce battle were found. Bullets (reportedly Cromwell’s “Brown Besses”) were dug out of the plaster. In a recess in one of the walls which had been carefully papered over was a covenanter’s bible. The Covenanters were a group of Christians in Scotland who worked to uphold the principles of the National Covenant of 1638. The significance of this is that Charles’ army was mostly made up of Scots. It is hard to think of any reason for that particular type of bible being secreted here other than by a royalist soldier loyal to Charles II. One who was unable, for whatever reason, to return and reclaim it.

Prince Charles – future King

Friar Street and Tudor House went into decline from the end of the 17th century. It is no little surprise, therefore, that no royal interest was made in them. We must fast forward all the way to the 2000s for the next part of the Royals verses Tudor House museum story. This involves Prince Charles, the Clothiers and an outstanding bill for a little over £453. It also directly relates to the previous section and when the future Charles II was defeated in 1651.

In late August 1651 King Charles II arrived at Worcester with his army of Scots hotly pursued by the parliamentarian army led by Oliver Cromwell. The King’s army was in a poor state of attire and so he asked the city’s mayor to give them new uniforms. The mayor passed this request on to the clothiers who had the new uniforms made. This landed the would be king a bill for £453 3s.

Being a bit short on readies Charles said he would pay once he had defeated Cromwell. However, he failed to do so and he fled the country. Even upon the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 the now King Charles II did not settle what he owed. He after all had not defeated Cromwell as such!

A Debt Repaid

However 357 years later in 2008, Charles Prince of Wales, agreed to settle the account and personally paid the full amount. No interest was added so only the base amount was given. Exactly how generous this gesture was is is open to debate.

What then is the link with Tudor House (I hear you cry)? The Worshipful Company of Clothiers of Worcester have strong ties with the museum. In recent years they have made it their home and hold regular meetings here. The purse with which Charles Prince of Wales paid the royal debt is on display within the museum in amongst our Clothiers’ displays (the money has long been spent!).

Richard, Duke of Gloucester

We must briefly stray from chronological order in the sequence of the royals linked to Tudor House and jump to 2013. It is only fitting that most important (to us) royal is left to last. In case you did not know, (Prince) Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is a paternal first cousin to our current Queen.

He actually stepped foot inside the museum on his visit when he unveiled a plaque celebrating the grant of a 125 year lease of the museum buildings from the council.

Not only that but he got the full VIP+ tour from volunteers and trustees. With true royal grit and fortitude he showed polite interest in all and everything he was saw.

God Save The Queen!

Well, Tudor House saved the Queen – until last that is! Yes, we even have a story relating to Queen Elizabeth II, longest serving British monarch. Ten years ago, as part of her mere 60 year jubilee (that’s diamond of course) she toured her “dominions” which included Worcester in May 2012.

The museum was suitably adorned with bunting and union flags. A crowd of well-wishers gathered in the street outside (plus a few extra hanging out of the upstairs windows). The Queen and her entourage drove down Friar Street towards the Cathedral passing right in front of them.

Now you should recall that in 1575 her namesake minus an I came to Worcester. One of the results of that visit was the addition, at Elizabeth I’s suggestion, of the black pear to the Worcester city coat of arms. It is widely believed that as Elizabeth II passed the museum she was so impressed with the knitted tea-cosies on display in the windows that she made a similar recommendation. Below is an artist’s impression of how the city’s coat of arms would have looked for the last ten years had her royal wishes been acted upon.

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