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Reminder:

All sessions (both in-school and on-site) offered by the Education team are free of charge.

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One of our Education Officers can come into school to deliver a session including:

An introduction to the Tudors with some references to Jersey

Handling Objects

Please contact education@jerseyheritage.org to book or for more information.

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Visit to Mont Orgueil Castle - focusing on the Tudor areas.

School visits with a Jersey Heritage Education Officer to La Hougue Bie will generally last up to 2 hours.

They will include:

focus on the Tudor areas of Mont Orgueil Castle

Looking at the Cornish Bastion and gun emplacements

Looking at the Tudor Hall

Viewing the Sir Anthony Paulet portrait in the Keep

Visit to Elizabeth Castle - please enquire about suitability. Although the Castle is named after Queen Elizabeth 1, there is little visible Tudor buildings or history on site.

These are free to local schools.

To book a session, please email education@jerseyheritage.org

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The wars that inspired Game of Thrones - Alex Gendler

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Elizabeth Castle was started during the Tudor period as the new defence of the Island due to the popularisation of canon and gunpowder. Mont Orgueil started its decline during this period.

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Free admission to the Castle for children under 6 years old

PRE-BOOKING

There is no requirement to book if your group is below 6+ Adults / Seniors
15% Group Booking discount is applicable to pre booked groups of 6+ or more Adults or Seniors (or combination of)

Discounts

15% discount for pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors. Please book in advance here

10% discount for non pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors (at VSA discretion)

Students and children - no group booking discount

Jersey Heritage welcomes the following Reciprocal Agreements:

Museums Association Members

International Council of Museums (ICOM) members

Alderney Society / Museum ticket holders

Friends of Manx National Heritage

Réseau des Musées de Normandie - Muséopass Card

Our disabled visitors pay the normal admission rate and we are happy to offer free admission for up to two carers.

Unlimited access to 4 must see attractions for the price of 3

Free admission to the Castle for children under 6 years old

DISCOUNTS

15% discount for pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors. Please book in advance here

10% discount for non pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors (at VSA discretion)

Students and children - no group booking discount

Jersey Heritage welcomes the following Reciprocal Agreements:

Museums Association Members

International Council of Museums (ICOM) members

Alderney Society / Museum ticket holders

National Art Pass Elizabeth Castle / Mont Orgueil / Jersey Museum

Friends of Manx National Heritage

Réseau des Musées de Normandie - Muséopass Card

Unlimited access to 4 must see attractions for the price of 3

ABOUT ELIZABETH CASTLE

Built on a rocky islet in St Aubin's Bay, Elizabeth Castle has defended Jersey for more than 400 years. You can take the amphibious Castle Ferry or walk out along the causeway at low tide. Elizabeth Castle is the perfect place to spend a day exploring Jersey's history. Climb the battlements dating back to the 1590's, when Sir Walter Raleigh was Governor of Jersey from 1600 until 1603. Explore the grounds which gave refuge to King Charles II during the English Civil War and uncover the bunkers which were re-fortified to command the sea approaches to Jersey during the German Occupation in World War II. Marvel at the hermitage where St Helier is thought to have lived around 550 A.D.

Top five things to do

1) Enjoy exploring all the hidden rooms, passageways and bunkers.

2) Take in the breathtaking views around the bay and the south coast of Jersey from the top of the Mount.

3) See the St Helier Hermitage and take a stroll to the end of the breakwater, which extends 1.5 miles out to sea.

4) Download the Elizabeth Castle App from Google Play or the Apple App Store and enjoy a guided tour of the Castle.

5) Take a tour of Elizabeth Castle with one of our volunteer guides

Elizabeth Castle is an island fortress built across 24 acres and 15 centuries.

With the introduction of gunpowder and cannon, the old medieval castle of Mont Orgueil on Jersey's east coast was no longer up to the job of defending Jersey. A new castle was needed and the chosen location was a small island know as The Islet, about half a mile out to sea and connected to land at low tide by a causeway. The new Elizabeth Castle would protect St Helier and offer a safe anchorage for merchant vessels.

Elizabeth Castle is divided into four parts. The oldest part is called the Upper Ward, below which is the Lower Ward, which includes the Parade Ground. From here, you can access the Breakwater and Hermitage Rock. Lastly is the Outer Ward, which you enter through the Main Gate.

Fortification of the site began between 1550 and 1551, when a gun platform was built on the highest point of the island. Forty years later, Queen Elizabeth I sent her military engineer, Paul Ivy, to oversee the construction of the Upper Ward. Sir Walter Raleigh, Governor of Jersey from 1600 to 1603, later named the new Castle after Her Majesty; Fort Isabella Bellissima, or Elizabeth Castle.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Castle was extended and developed. In the 1640s, when Jersey was drawn into the English Civil War, a fortified windmill was constructed beside the Green to better defend the Lower Ward.

The Castle was eventually built over two small islands that were joined together in 1668, when the Curtain Walls were extended to enclose the tidal ditch that separated them. During the first half of the 18th century, the Lower Ward was remodelled with the building of a new Soldiers' Barracks and Officers' Quarters.

At first, the tide that surrounded the Castle seven hours out of twelve was seen as its strength, but events later proved it to be a weakness. When the French invaded Jersey on 6 January 1781, the troops garrisoned at the Castle could not take part in the defence of St Helier once they were cut off by the tide.

So, a new fortification was built on the Town Hill overlooking St Helier - Fort Regent. Elizabeth Castle continued to be a military garrison until 1923, when it was sold by the British Government to the States of Jersey. It was fortified once again by the German Forces during the Occupation of 1940 to 1945.

Meet the Gunner

It's the year 1781, just months after the legendary battle of Jersey. Gunner Gillman for the Royal Artillery Invalid Battalion, will captivate you with an account of the battle and tell you stories from the Castle's dramatic past. But, be prepared to be drafted into the Midday Parade and witness the firing of the musket and cannon....it will be an experience to remember.

Café

The café at Elizabeth Castle is the ideal location for a refreshment break as you explore the grounds of the castle. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, including tables in the peaceful, natural garden. We have carefully sourced the best local suppliers to provide delicious cakes and savoury light bites, which accompany our freshly prepared sandwiches, salad boxes and daily specials.

Walking Times and Ferry Sailings

Ferry sailings, and walking times are subject to weather and tidal conditions. Please review this Unless indicated in the spreadsheet, the ferry operating times are between 10am and 5pm, with last entry to the Castle at 4.30pm and the last ferry leaving the Castle at 5pm. excel spreadsheet (using the tab on the bottom for the month of your visit) for a rough guide on expected delays and suspension in the ferry service due to tidal conditions, if you are in any doubt please contact the Castle Ferry team 01534 634048.

Do your Own Tour

Download our FREE app to your tablet or phone to meet some costumed characters from the past, and enjoy fascinating stories from the Castle's rich history.

Free Walking Guide

First Tower to the Elizabeth Castle Ferry. This short walk of under one mile, brings together a huge slice of social history. Within a mile, we will go from the serenity of sailing ships to the immediacy of air travel, and the revolutionary steps that took place in between. Find out more about this walk and our other Island walks here.

Guide Book

Guide book is available from the castle or the publications section on the website.

Facilities and Access

Read the Elizabeth Castle access statement.

Payment: On arrival or at the Ferry Kiosk by debit, credit card (not Amex), in Sterling or Euro.

Organised groups: 15% discount for groups of 6 or more adults or seniors. Please book in advance by completing the form here.

Entrance and parking: The castle is reached on foot along a causeway from West Park slipway in St Helier. Visitors can either walk at low tide or catch the Castle Ferry (small charge applies) at high or low tide. Paid public parking is available in Patriotic Street, the Waterfront or in parking bays off Victoria Avenue.

Buses and cycle routes: All bus routes terminate at Liberation Station which is a short walk away. Jersey cycle route 1

Refreshments: A café is on site.

Gift Shop: Jersey Heritage gift shops, selling gifts, souvenirs, books and toys are located at Elizabeth Castle and in the Castle Ferry kiosk.

Access arrangements: Unfortunately most the site is not suitable for people with mobility impairment. There are two wheel chairs available for use on site.

Push Chairs: Two push chairs are available on site for free use (no booking, first come first serve basis).

Dogs: No dogs allowed, except guide dogs. Read our policy here.

WIFI: Available on site

Coming from Jersey Harbour? DO NOT FOLLOW THE SIGNS FROM TOWN DIRECTING YOU THE ELIZABETH FERRY TERMINAL.

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Free admission to the Castle for children under 6 years old There is no requirement to book if your group is below 6+ Adults / Seniors 15% Group Booking discount is applicable to pre booked groups of 6+ or more Adults or Seniors (or combination of) 15% discount for pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors.

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Terrible Tudors Songs | Horrible Histories

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Henry VIII (1491-1547) is one of the most written about kings in English history. He established the Church of England and the Royal Navy.

Henry VIII came to the throne when his father Henry VII died on 21 April 1509. He was a powerful man and charismatic figure; perhaps best known for his tumultuous love life and the establishment of the Church of England. He is also credited with establishing the Royal Navy, encouraging shipbuilding and the creation of anchorages and dockyards.

1. Henry had six wives in total

They were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.
Who were Henry VIII's wives?
2. His marriage to Anne Boleyn led to the establishment of the Church of England

Because divorce wasn't allowed within the Roman Catholic church, Henry wasn't allowed to divorce Catherine of Aragon and remarry Anne Boleyn. To get around this, Henry broke with the papacy in Rome, and established the Church of England instead.

3. Henry increased the size of the Royal Navy by 10 times

Fearing attacks from France and Spain after his separation from Rome, Henry invested heavily in the Royal Navy.
Find out more about Henry VIII's navy
4. Henry established Deptford and Woolwich as the Royal Dockyards

He chose these locations because they were near to his riverside palace in Greenwich.

5. Henry was born at Greenwich Palace on 28 June 1491

Both his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were also born at Greenwich. Two of Henry's marriages, to Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves, took place at Greenwich.

6. Henry had three legitimate children

Henry had a daughter Mary with Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth with Anne Boleyn, and a son Edward with Jane Seymour. All three children would rule England after Henry's death, with Elizabeth, the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty, ruling for a celebrated 45 years.
Find out more
7. Henry's flagship, the Mary Rose, was launched in 1511

After a long and successful career, she sank in 1545 off Portsmouth, during an engagement with a French fleet. She was excavated and successfully raised from the bed of The Solent in 1982, with many artefacts still intact.
What happened to the Mary Rose?

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Henry VIII (1491-1547) is one of the most written about kings in English history. He established the Church of England and the Royal Navy

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"Gunpowder," as it came to be known, is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal. Together, these materials will burn rapidly and explode as a propellant.

Chinese monks discovered the technology in the 9th century CE, during their quest for a life-extending elixir. The key ingredient, saltpeter, had been in use by this same culture since the late centuries BCE for medicinal purposes. It was found to be incendiary and immediately applied to warfare.

The Mongols soon emerged as an ambitious and violent society, and their conquests and invasions acted as a vehicle by which gunpowder would spread to the rest of the world. It is documented that the technology had reached the Middle East by the 13th century CE, at which point traders as well as crusaders would have come into contact with it.

The main problem with gunpowder at this time was that the ingredients had to be measured properly in order for the mixture to ignite properly and explode. Thus, knowledge of the required materials was not so much the technology as was the knowledge of the formula.

Perfecting the formula can be noted as the first major landmark in technological development. The most effective ratio (very approximate) was believed to be 1 part sulfur: 3 parts charcoal: 9 parts saltpeter, according to 13th century Arabian documents. Sir Roger Bacon had been experimenting with something 29.5% sulfur, 29.5% charcoal, and 41% saltpeter, however it was eventually found that the best ratio was 10:15:75 (the modern formula). The next big improvement came when 14th century Europeans began adding liquid to the mixture, forming a paste that would dry and could be ground into balls--this came to be known as "corned powder." This greatly increased the practicality of the primitive bombs and guns, as corned powder was more durable, reliable, and safe (the dried paste would insure that almost all of the ingredients would ignite at the same time and explode as one).

As the European powers emerged into the Early Modern Period, saltpeter came into high demand as the key tool for warfare, or the "commodity or empire," as one author put it. The British and Dutch were the key players in this act (as France and Spain could self-sustain their saltpeter supply at this point). India was found to be rich in the demanded resources, and thus various overseas trading companies were established to further the European interest. Examples include the English East India Trading Company, the Dutch East India Company, the French ''Compagnie des Indes orientales'', and the Prussian Bengal and Asiatic Companies. This competition must quickly be compared to the scramble for oil in the 19th and 20th centuries, and was the first time that an element of a technology caused the world to mobilize to such an extent.

-The Elixir of Life.

-East India Trading Co.

Image sources: http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/images/fire.gif, http://www.maritimeheritage.org/images/eastindia.gif

Next: Advancement: Bigger Explosions.

Back to A History of Explosives: Chronology.

Back to the bomb main.

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"Gunpowder," as it came to be known, is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal. Together, these materials will burn rapidly and explode as a propellant. Chinese monks discovered the technology in the 9th century CE, during their quest for a life-extending elixir.

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AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY

Henry VIII's aggressive foreign policy took locally raised militia abroad to fight alongside specialist mercenaries.

In 1544 at least 38,000 men went to France, then the largest ever English expeditionary force. In the same period Henry deployed 5,500 men along the borders and in southern Scotland during the wars of the 'Rough Wooing' (1543-50) - Henry VIII's attempt to force the marriage of his son Edward to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, and to break the Auld Alliance between France and Scotland. Though neither venture proved successful, they provided valuable tactical experience with siege artillery, in logistics, and in combined operations between army and navy.

By 1547, English forces were slowly equipping with new personal firearms, which could be operated by less sturdy men (and after briefer training) than longbow archers. Bronze and wrought-iron artillery was commonplace, and a few cast-iron pieces were appearing on land and in warships.

Most importantly, by the end of his reign Henry VIII had built a powerful Navy Royal of warships, purpose-built to carry heavy guns, as his first line of defence against invasion. This included the ill-fated Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 during an action against the French fleet in the Solent.

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Henry VIII's aggressive foreign policy took locally raised militia abroad to fight alongside specialist mercenaries. In 1544 at least 38,000 men went to France, then the largest ever English expeditionary force.

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*The Tudor period in England was marked by the transition from Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. Historians suggest that the Medieval Period ended around c.1485.

This was a time when conventional weapons such as swords, axes, and bows were still in use but were increasingly being replaced by more modern gunpowder weapons. Therefore, the cache of weaponry used by the English troops during the Tudor era often included both types of weapons.

The conventional weapons used during the early Tudor period included longbow, dagger, battle axe, a variety of swords, caltrop, billhooks, lanes, poleaxes, and spears. Gunpowder weapons that were increasingly being used in the later Tudor period included muskets, matchlock, flintlock, and canons.

Conventional Tudor Weapons

A wide variety of conventional weapons were used by the Tudor troops on the battlefield. Among these were a number of long weapons which were aimed at countering the cavalry of the enemy's armies. Weapons used for this purpose included the bill and billhook, both of which were long poles topped with sharp blades which could effectively kill both a horse and a rider at a distance.

A caltrop was a small spike that could be attached to a long pole of up to 18 feet long and could be used to attack a knight from a safe distance, in history the caltrop was also used to injure the hooves of horses by spreading them across large areas of the ground with the spikes facing upwards.

The halberd was a long weapon topped with a sharp double-edged axe which was particularly effective in infantry combat. Pikes measuring up to 20 feet in length and poleaxes were also used to attack enemy cavalry on the battlefield. In rare cases, English troops during the Tudor era also made use of spears which were primarily meant as close-combat weapons.

Tudor Swords

A variety of swords were used by the Englishmen during the Tudor period. These included the cutting sword, the broadsword, and the rapier. The cutting sword was useful in the medieval period but was less effective on the battlefield by the time the Tudor era began.

It was consequently replaced by the rapier which was sleeker and was adopted from Spain. The rapier was also used by English noblemen to test their skills at fencing which had become a popular sport during the Tudor period. It was common for the noblemen to wear their rapier along with the civilian dress, usually as a part of the clothing.

Tudor Gunpowder Weapons

During the 16th century, the use of gunpowder weapons had become increasingly frequent. This led to the phasing out of many conventional weapons during the Tudor era and their replacement by gunpowder weapons. Most notable of such replacements was that of the bow which had been the primary weapon of English troops during the medieval period.

The bows were replaced by muskets by the end of the century. The Matchlock was another firearm that gained widespread use among English troops during the later Tudor period.

However, given that it was slow to lock and fire, the matchlock was soon replaced by a flintlock. Canons also became the primary sieging weapon of the Tudor armies, also used as a vital weapon by the English navy. These canons produced during the Tudor period were usually made from iron or bronze.

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The Tudor period in England was marked by the transition from Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. Historians suggest that the Medieval Period ended around c.1485. This was a time when conventional weapons such as swords, axes, and bows were still in use but were increasingly being replaced by more modern gunpowder weapons.

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This wild spirit found himself caged at the Tower of London

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But if Edward's reign was short, it was far from insignificant, heralding some of the most significant religious reforms that England has ever seen. Edward and his advisers, notably Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, would lay the foundations for the modern Church of England. Neither was Edward the fragile boy that he has so often been portrayed as. He enjoyed robust health for most of his young life, and had a will of steel to match. Far from being dominated by ambitious councillors such as the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, he had strong opinions, ideas of his own and all the makings of a tyrant. In short, he was a chip off the old block.

Edward VI's early life

Edward spent most of his early years at Hampton Court and a series of other palaces outside London, where the air was cleaner and the risk of plague much lower. He was widely reported to be a happy, healthy child. His lady governess, Margaret Bryan, who had also cared for Mary and Elizabeth, wrote an enthusiastic report of the Prince's progress to Thomas Cromwell in March 1539: "My lord Prince is in good health and merry. Would to God the King and your Lordship had seen him last night. The minstrels played, and his Grace danced and played so wantonly that he could not stand still."

Far from being dominated by ambitious councillors, Edward had all the makings of a tyrant

As was common practice for royal children, Edward was raised among women for the first few years of his life. But upon reaching his sixth birthday, his life underwent a dramatic transformation. The Tudors considered this the age at which a child became an adult. As a result, Henry VIII ordered that his son's apartments be remodelled so that they exactly mirrored his own, including Flemish tapestries showing the same classical and Biblical scenes that the King favoured. The Prince was also given a new wardrobe of clothes so that he could dress like his father.

The other significant change in Edward's upbringing was that his female attendants were dismissed, replaced by the care of a predominantly male household. The respected scholars Richard Cox and John Cheke were appointed as his tutors. The latter was greatly impressed with his new charge and claimed that he "has accomplished at this early period of his life more numerous and important objects, than others have been able to do when their age was more settled and matured". This was no flattery. Edward was a precocious student who applied himself with a discipline beyond his years.

Edward's birth was marked by 2,000 shots of cannon at the Tower of London. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)

Henry took a close interest in his son's education, and although he accepted that it should follow humanist lines, with an emphasis on Latin, Greek, grammar and rhetoric, he insisted that Edward should also be taught fencing, horseback riding, music and other courtly pursuits. The King also ensured that Edward received a religious education that was at least broadly evangelical: after all, it was crucial that his heir should respect and promote the royal supremacy over the Church. Religious conservatives had no place in his schoolroom.

More like this

Edward soon grew close to Cranmer who, with an eye to the future, was determined to inspire in the young prince a passion for the reformed faith. In 1544, Edward wrote to thank Cranmer for his "very kind letter", and assured him: "I am not unmindful either of your attention to me or your kindness which you study every day to show me."

The archbishop was so successful in cultivating the Tudor heir that Edward soon came to look upon him as a fatherly figure. His letters to Cranmer reveal how close they had become. "I affectionately receive and honour that truly paternal affection which you have expressed," he told Cranmer on one occasion, "and I hope that you may live many years, and continue to be my honoured father by your godly and wholesome advice." The archbishop called the Prince, "My dearest son in Christ," and assured him, "My life is not to be called living unless you are in health and strength."

Was Edward VI a zealot?

Edward became king in January 1547, at the age of nine. By that time, he was fired with an evangelising zeal. "In the court there is no bishop, and no man of learning so ready to argue in support of the new doctrine as the King," reported the Imperial ambassador. Edward spent several hours a day in private devotion and, determined that his subjects should conform to his faith, he spent much of his short reign implementing a series of radical reforms that would establish a strong Protestant doctrine in England.

In January 1549, the first Book of Common Prayer was published. Its aim was to establish uniformity of worship for all, and it was followed by an even more extreme version three years later. This, the second Book of Common Prayer provided a model for worship within the Church of England for the next four centuries. At the same time, Edward's council banned a number of old Catholic rituals, such as the use of rosaries, the casting of holy water and the undertaking of pilgrimage.

This had a profound impact upon the lives of Edward's subjects - including those closest to the King. An entry in Edward's journal for January 1552 records: "The Emperor's ambassador moved me severally that my sister Mary might have mass, which, with no little reasoning with him, was denied him." If he had lived to maturity, there is little doubt that Edward would have persecuted any nonconformists with increasing severity - even more so, perhaps, than his elder half-sister later did.

Seymour was quick to seize the advantage when Henry VIII breathed his last

Though young, Edward had a maturity beyond his years. The Italian physician and astrologer Hieronymus Cardano described how Edward "carried himself like an old man; and yet he was always affable and gentle, as became his age". He also wrote that Edward was "of stature somewhat below the middle height, pale-faced with grey eyes, a grave aspect, decorous and handsome". But for all his accomplishments, the inescapable fact was that Edward remained a minor.

While he was able to put his stamp on religious policies, thanks to his close relationship with Cranmer, his political authority was limited by the men his father had appointed to form a regency council. Foremost among them was the young monarch's uncle, Edward Seymour, the Duke of Somerset. Since his nephew's birth, Seymour had lusted for power and he was quick to seize the advantage when Henry VIII breathed his last. His close kinship to Edward made him the natural choice to take charge of the regency council as Lord Protector and Governor of the King's Person.

Although Seymour's position seemed assured until his nephew reached maturity, it would soon become obvious that vesting so much power in one man was ill advised. The fatal flaw in the arrangement was that, although the council had decreed that the Lord Protector "shall not do any act but with the advice and consent of the rest of the co-executors" of Henry VIII's will, Seymour was determined to exercise the full power of a regent. As one contemporary observed, he sought to make himself "the King of the King".

Thomas Cranmer came to a bad end after Edward's death - Mary had him burned alive. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Seymour was ruthless in his quest for absolute authority, not flinching even to have his own brother, Thomas, put to death in March 1549 on charges of plotting to kidnap Edward, marry Elizabeth and make himself Lord Protector. His arrogance soon made an enemy of his erstwhile ally John Dudley, another member of Edward's council. In October 1549, Dudley led a coup to oust his rival from office, and Edward was persuaded to order his uncle's arrest.

Although Seymour was subsequently released and readmitted to the Privy Council, he was deprived of any real power from that day forward. Dudley was now the dominant force behind Edward's reign - but he soon became as blinded by ambition as his predecessor.

Having secured himself the dukedom of Northumberland in October 1551, Dudley had Seymour arrested a few days later on trumped up charges of treason. The former Lord Protector was executed in January 1552. This served to increase the ranks of Dudley's enemies, but he ruled undeterred, with ever greater tyranny.

How did Edward VI die?

As his reign descended into chaos and disorder, Edward's health began to fail. In April 1552, he contracted measles. Although he recovered, his immune system was fatally weakened, and he soon fell prey to what was almost certainly tuberculosis. Royal doctors reported his symptoms with a mixture of alarm and confusion: "The matter he ejects from his mouth is sometimes coloured a greenish-yellow and black, sometimes pink, like the colour of blood." Exhausted by a hacking cough and a high fever, Edward also developed ulcers across his swollen body.

He was determined to prevent Mary's accession, aware that she would undo his religious reforms

Despite his rapidly deteriorating condition, the King's mind remained sharp. He was determined to prevent the accession of his elder half-sister Mary, aware that she would undo all of the religious reforms for which he and Cranmer had worked so hard. But he also proposed to disinherit his other half-sister, Elizabeth, on account of her bastardy.

This ran contrary to the laws of inheritance, not to mention his late father's wishes. But Edward was under pressure from Dudley, who had his own family's interests at heart. In late May 1553, the dying King signed a 'Devise' for the succession, leaving his crown to Jane Grey, granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary - and also Dudley's daughter-in-law.

By July, Edward was unable to keep any food down and was wracked by constant pain. Little wonder that he whispered to one of his attendants: "I am glad to die." On the 6th of that month, between 8pm and 9pm, the 15-year-old prepared for the end. To his last breath, he tried to safeguard the Protestant religion: "O Lord God, save thy chosen people of England! O my Lord God, defend this realm from papistry and maintain thy true religion." He then whispered, "I am faint," to one of his servants, who cradled his body in his arms, "Lord have mercy on me, and take my spirit." They were the last words that Edward spoke.

Who succeeded Edward VI?

Edward's wishes for the succession were carried out, but only briefly: Jane Grey was queen for just nine days. The dispossessed Mary rallied thousands of subjects to her cause, and soon her late brother's council turned its coat and declared for her. On 19 July, Mary was proclaimed queen amidst great rejoicing. She wasted no time in overturning all of Edward's reforms, but her victory too would be short-lived. She died after just five years on the throne, leaving their younger half-sister, Elizabeth, to continue the work that he had begun.

Edward VI's youth - four key questions answered
The young prince had lost his mother and suffered a typically absent father, but his youth was marked with care and affection
Was Edward VI a sickly child?

Far from being the sickly child that history has often portrayed him as, Edward was a robust little boy and, as Thomas Cromwell put it, "sucketh like a child of his puissance". Lord Chancellor Thomas Audley paid a visit to his nursery and noted that Edward "waxeth firm and stiff". Having enjoyed a rich diet since he was weaned, the boy was well on the way to mirroring his father's generous proportions.

In October 1541, one visitor to Edward's household described the Prince as "well fed", hastily adding that he was also handsome and remarkably tall for his age. A rather less tactful report claimed that the four-year-old was "so gross and unhealthy that he could not believe, judging from what he could see now, that he would live long". Edward also contracted malaria, much to his father's alarm, but recovered and was put on a strict diet. It did the trick: the Prince remained in good health for the next ten years.

What was Edward VI's relationship like with his father?

As might be expected for the long-awaited son that he had gone to so much trouble (and so many marriages) to beget, Henry lavished excessive care upon Edward from the moment of his birth. He ordered that "this whole realm's most precious jewel" should be raised primarily in newly built apartments at Hampton Court, well away from the perpetual sickness that plagued the capital. A strict regime of care, hygiene and security was put in place to protect the infant prince's health and welfare. No detail was overlooked. A rare glimpse of the Prince's bedchamber at Hampton Court is provided by a reference to the making of "a frame of scaffold polls over the Prince's bed to keep away the heat of the Sun".

All of the King's assiduous care was administered at a distance: Henry adhered to royal tradition by being as absent a father to Edward as he was to Mary and Elizabeth. A rare glimpse of him paying a visit to his infant son was recorded in May 1538, when he spent the day with Edward "dallying with him in his arms a long space and so holding him in a window to the sight and great comfort of all the people".

What was Edward's relationship like with Katherine Parr?

Edward never knew his mother: Jane Seymour died just 12 days after his birth. Of the three stepmothers who followed, he was closest to Katherine Parr.

Henry's sixth and final wife was a loving and caring figure to all her stepchildren. Keen to present a united Tudor family to the court, she employed a number of personal touches. For example, for the New Year celebrations of 1544/5, she had matching clothes made for herself, the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth, and Prince Edward, all in cloth of silver.

Recognising Edward's intellectual abilities, Katherine took a keen interest in his schooling - and that of his half-sister Elizabeth - and may have influenced the appointment of their tutors. The young prince, who shared Elizabeth's love of learning, gratefully enthused to his "most dear mother": "I received so many benefits from you that my mind can hardly grasp them".

What was Edward's relationship like with his siblings, Mary and Elizabeth?

Edward's elder half-sister Mary was a regular visitor to his nursery. Aged 21 at the time of his birth, she had a strong maternal instinct and lavished affection on her motherless baby brother. She also gave him various gifts - all of which were more personal than those he received from his father. On New Year in 1539, for example, she presented him with a made-to-measure coat of crimson satin embroidered with gold and pearls and with sleeves of tinsel. Throughout his childhood, and before their relationship was soured by diverging religious views, Edward was very fond of his elder sister. He "took special content" in her company and once assured her that, despite his infrequent letters, "I love you most."

Edward was also fond of his other half-sister Elizabeth, to whom he was much closer in age - she was just four years his senior - and with whom he was educated. Their lessons were heavily influenced by the curriculum known as bonae litterae (good letters), espoused by northern European humanists. It emphasised the importance of Latin and Greek grammar and rhetoric, classical authors and scripture above more traditional elements of a prince's education, such as hunting, hawking and dancing. Edward also shared his sister Elizabeth's fascination with magic and astrology; among his toys was a red box filled with "small tools of sorcery". Above all, though, the siblings grew to share a passionate commitment to the reformist faith.
This article was first published in the October 2018 edition of BBC History Revealed

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Edward VI: why the forgotten Tudor king had the makings of a monster

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The son Henry VIII always wanted is often maligned as a sickly child - but does he deserve this reputation?

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Poor young Lady Jane Grey is famous for having the shortest reign in England's history... just nine days.

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Elizabeth I became queen in 1558 at a time of political crisis. Since the death of her father, Henry VIII, in 1547, the reigns of Elizabeth's brother Edward VI (1547-53) and sister Mary I (1553-58) had seen England beset by religious conflict and impoverished by war. Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, the condemned traitor-queen, had even been imprisoned in the Tower of London, and held under house arrest at Hampton Court, on suspicion of plotting against Mary: this was a Tudor dynasty at war with itself. What would happen next?

Against the odds, Elizabeth's personal bravery and charisma, mixed with a natural inclination to compromise rather than dictate, helped stabilise the country. The 'Virgin Queen' never married, but instead pledged her body to England itself. In 1588, when Spain threatened to invade, she made one of the most famous speeches in royal history to inspire her troops. God listened, and the Spanish Armada was defeated.

Elizabeth became a legend in her own lifetime, praised by poets and immortalised by artists as 'Gloriana', an immortal goddess sworn to protect a nation thriving in a cultural renaissance, the age of Shakespeare. But how much of this can possibly be true? Was Elizabeth's 44-year reign really a 'golden era' of English history?
Queen Elizabeth I, 'The Rainbow Portrait' (detail), by Isaac Oliver, c1600. Reproduced by permission of the Marquess of Salisbury, Hatfield House

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Elizabeth I became queen in 1558 at a time of political crisis. Since the death of her father, Henry VIII, in 1547, the reigns of Elizabeth's brother Edward VI (1547-53) and sister Mary I (1553-58) had seen England beset by religious conflict and impoverished by war.

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Sir Walter Raleigh - Dreaming Beyond the Medieval - Hughson Gallery

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Development of Castles to Defend Against Cannons

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Development of Castles to Defend Against Cannons

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Sir Walter Raleigh is the subject of a set of six stamps and a Miniature Sheet to be issued by Jersey Post on 5 February 2019. Designed by True North, the stamps illustrate Raleigh's varied career and positive impacts that his Governorship had on the island of Jersey.

"Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the most important figures of the Elizabethan era," explains Melanie Gouzinis, Head of Philatelic at Jersey Post. "He was Governor of Jersey from 1600-1603 and it appears he was very much a 'hands on' Governor, improving the militia and the Island's defences, fostering trade and attending sittings of the court. The building of Elizabeth Castle in the bay of St Aubin in the south of the Island commenced 425 years ago, in 1594 and it was Raleigh who named it after Queen Elizabeth I, using the Latin words 'Fort Isabelle Bellissima' meaning 'Elizabeth the most beautiful'. Raleigh also saved the iconic Mont Orgueil on the east coast of Jersey from destruction, famously saying 'Twere pity to cast it down'.

Each of the six stamps features a striking black and white illustration, reflective of an aspect of Raleigh's career or association with Jersey, together with words or a quote. An accompanying Miniature Sheet features a portrait of Raleigh against an antique map of the world with the words 'Soldier, Sailor, Poet, Adventurer & Governor of Jersey' in the bottom right.

Jersey Post's Sir Walter Raleigh, Governor of Jersey stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from 5 February 2019. Philatelic stamp products such as Miniature Sheets, First Day Covers and Presentation Packs will be available from the Jersey post offices at Broad Street, St Helier and Rue Des Pres, St Saviour on issue day and can be ordered now at www.jerseystamps.com Alternatively, you can email the Jersey Philatelic Bureau at stamps@jerseypost.com or telephone us on: +44(0) 1534 616717.

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Sir Walter Raleigh, Governor of Jersey, commemorated on Jersey stamps

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Sir Walter Raleigh is the subject of a set of six stamps and a Miniature Sheet to be issued by Jersey Post on 5 February 2019. Designed by True North, the stamps illustrate Raleigh's varied career and positive impacts that his Governorship had on the island of Jersey.

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Marcus Gheeraerts the younger painting of Anthony Paulet

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Marcus Gheeraerts the younger painting of Anthony Paulet

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The Jersey Heritage Archive & Online Collections section allows you to subscribe to view scanned copies of archives such as the German Occupation Registration Cards and important document transcriptions online.

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Sir Amyas Paulet (1536?-1588) [Amias Poulet, Pawlet, Poulett]

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Biography of Sir Amyas Paulet, who was keeper of Mary Queen of Scots under Queen Elizabeth I.

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Museums in Schools is a project supported by Ogiers, which allows artefacts to come into your school for pupils to see objects up close.
You can request to have the Tudor replica artefact box in your school as a classroom resources - free of charge.
Please email education@jerseyheritage.org to book the box.