Madam Bennett: Brothel keeper. (First name unknown).
Dr John Mills: Parson of St Olave’s Church, Seething Lane, London.
Dr James Pearce: Royal Surgeon.
Edward Backwell: Jeweller.
Sir Thomas Bloodworth. Mayor of London at the time of the Great Fire.
Fictional Characters
Toby Bennett. (b1638)
George, Veronica’s partner. (1606–1666)
Elizabeth, Christina and Helen. Prostitutes.
Samuel Skinner (Stinky). Dung barge keeper.
Thomas Hudson. Tutor and Privy Councillor. (b1595)
Richard Leeson. Soldier. (1625–1664)
Louis Anderson. Royal Stables supervisor at Noordeinde Palace, The Hague.
Lady Bramwell. Bramwell House, St Helier, Jersey. Philip, nephew, Milly, housemaid.
Sir Hugo Haworth. Squire of Bishop’s Wood. Boscobel House.
Paul Cullum. Knight and Courtier to Charles II.
Arthur Crossley. Clerk to the Navy Board, wife Matilda.
Felix. Urchin.
William Huxley 3rd Baronet of Lewes.
Lady Anne Huxley, wife of William.
Children of William and Anne, Peter and Robert.
John Brocklehurst. 10th Viscount of Kettleford.
Edward Brocklehurst, son of John.
Charlotte Brocklehurst, wife of Edward.
Eleanor and Hannah Brocklehurst, daughters of Edward and Charlotte.
John Brocklehurst. Junior (Born 14th February, 1666.)
Luke Brotherton, Captain of the Tudor Breeze, and his brother Mathew.
Garry Watson. Captain of the Tudor Rose.
Neville Gregory. Captain of the Tudor Queen.
Author’s notes
Boscobel House.
Boscobel House and its Royal Oak tree became famous as hiding places of King Charles II after defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. After Charles’s visit Boscobel remained a working farm, and today you can visit the lodge, farmyard, gardens .
Stokesay.
Is one of the earliest English fortified Manor Houses, dating back to the late thirteenth century.
Stokesay was one of the many residences owned by Sir William, Earl of Craven. He was, however, not in residence during the civil war as he was living on the continent with his lover, Dowager Queen of Bohemia… sister of Charles I.
Dinmore Manor.
… is now a private residence and no longer open to the general public.
Sitting on an elevation of around 500 feet (150 m) above sea level, with views over the Malvern Hills, the site was developed from 1189 by the Knights Templar. It was later taken over as a Command Centre of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. The site includes a 1,200-year-old Yew tree.
The chapel of St John of Jerusalem remains on the site. Erected in the early part of the 12th century and formerly attached to the Command Centre, it was rebuilt in 1370 in the Norman and Decorated architectural styles. A rectangular building, it consists of a chancel, a nave, a north porch and a western tower with spire. It was thoroughly restored in 1886 by Rev. Harris Fleming St John MA, and filled with painted windows, allegedly by himself. Stated to have had the privilege of sanctuary, there are sittings for 50 persons.
Flanesford Priory.
Flanesford Priory was originally an Augustinian priory, and later owned by Sir Richard Talbot who is buried there.
The priory church was dedicated to St John the Baptist.
The priory was one of the first to succumb at the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After it was dissolved in 1537, ownership was granted to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. On his death in 1590 the property passed to his son Gilbert, who died in 1616 without issue. The priory buildings were then used as farm buildings until 1980, when they were converted into self-catering holiday apartments.
The surviving priory buildings, in particular the refectory building, are Grade I listed. The refectory building was constructed in squared sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings but with a 20th century roof. Internally it has been modified over the years for farming purposes and latterly for accommodation.
Petworth House.
The manor of Petworth first came into the possession of the Percy family as a royal gift from Adeliza of Louvain, the widow of King Henry I (1100–1135), to her brother Jocelyn of Louvain. He later married the Percy heiress and adopted the surname Percy. His descendants became the Earls of Northumberland, the most powerful family in northern England.
In 1670 Jocelyne Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670), died without a male heir, and thus his considerable fortune and estates of Petworth House, Alnwick Castle, Syon House and Northumberland House were inherited by his two-year-old daughter and sole heiress, Lady Elizabeth Percy (1667–1722).
Sir Christopher Hatton.
Courtier to Queen Elizabeth I, financed Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation voyage round the world in 1578.
CH Shipping is a little artistic licence on my part.
Spinet: A small type of harpsichord.
Flageolet: Flute.
At the time of writing, to the best of my knowledge the information used is correct.
Source of information:
Extracts from the Diary of Samuel Pepys. (Selected by Robert Latham.)
The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy.
English Castles. English Tourist Board. (Richard Humble)
English Houses. English Tourist Board. (Russell Chamberlin)
Courtier in the Royal House of Stuart Page 47
