On this day in Tudor history, 14th September 1540, Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower of London, Knight of the Garter and comptroller of the King's household, died at his home in Painswick in Gloucestershire. 

 

Sir William Kingston was Constable of the Tower of London while Queen Anne Boleyn was imprisoned there in May 1536, and his letters to Thomas Cromwell are an excellent primary source for historians, but there's much more to this royal servant than that. He had a wonderful career in service to the king and benefited as a result.

 

Find out more about Kingston in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown".

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 14th September 1538, the Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham, which had stood since the early 12th century, was destroyed on the orders of King Henry VIII.

Hear contemporary accounts of the shrine's destruction, which include details of what was seized and sent to London, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/kIMSN1kR0t0