Caludon (including Castle ruin)

A super opportunity to meet both the publisher and the author of the "A History of Caludon Castle" book....

Another treat now for anyone with an interest in Wyken or Caludon. John's Clarke's daughter, Samantha, has sent me a video to share - the first of a series of short videos from Mark Ellis - the producer on the film documentary Lords of the Manor: The Lost History of Caludon Castle. Samantha informs us that "The video relates to Lady Katherine Berkeley, Lady of the Manor of Caludon and wife of Lord Henry, with opening scenes of her large funeral in Coventry". Also that "Future videos will include Caludon's links to Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Battle of Gosford Green.". I'm certainly very much looking forward to those, which will increase our knowledge of just how much Coventry, in its medieval heyday, was constantly rubbing shoulders with royalty.

Many of us are aware that William Shakespeare almost certainly performed several times in Coventry, at St. Mary's Guildhall. However, the focus is now turning towards Caludon Castle in Wyken. One of Shakespeare's most famous plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, was written during Lord Henry and Lady Katherine Berkeley's time at Caludon, and it is postulated that the play might have been written to celebrate the wedding of their son Thomas (a Godson of Queen Elizabeth I) to Elizabeth Carey in 1596. This 4 minute video brings together some of the evidence.... For those interested in a more general behind-the-scenes look at the Caludon research, here is a podcast by Mark Ellis interviewing John E Clarke, OBE, to gain an insight into his motivation to write a book, make a film, create an event, set up a society, etc. ...