Second Year Collection

Henry VIII used Hatfield, the episcopal palace built for Bishop John Morton, as a royal nursery. It is most closely associated with Elizabeth I, who retreated to Hatfield during difficult times in the reigns of her half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary I. Dr Elizabeth Norton explores the remains of this red-brick palace and the momentous events that occurred there.

The Battle of Bosworth was a defining moment in English history, marking the end of three hundred years of Plantagenet rule and, some argue, the end of the medieval period. Julian Humphrys discusses the battle that saw the death of the last Plantagenet king and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty.

The astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace is a marvel of sixteenth-century design and innovation, reflecting the interests of the age in astronomy and astrology. Tracy Borman explains the history and workings of this wonderful timepiece.

Cawood's convenient location and comfortable accommodation attracted several royal visitors over the centuries, although Archbishop Thomas Wolsey only finally made use of the episcopal palace following his fall from favour at the Tudor court. Julian Humphrys visits the remains of Thomas Wolsey's last home.

Rebuilt twice before its current twelfth-century incarnation, Peterborough Cathedral is a glorious mix of Norman and Gothic architecture. In the sixteenth century, the cathedral became the burial place of two queens, each of whom the reigning monarch wished to forget. Dr Emma J. Wells looks at its turbulent history and splendid architecture.

Popular perceptions of what Tudor buildings looked like are strongly shaped by the mainly monochrome colours of what remains today. But the reality - of highly decorated, and often very colourful, interiors - is very different. Dr Emma J. Wells looks at the fascinating world of Tudor wall paintings.