In King Richard’s Sword, the sixth novel in my Lady Apollonia West Country Mysteries, I have used a National Trust property, Greyfriars House and Garden, as my inspiration for the home of Apollonia’s son, Sir Hugh, on Friar Street in Worcester, England. Lady Apollonia and some of her affinity are temporarily living with Sir Hugh in this book. Greyfriars was built some decades after my story in 1399, but it is a good example of the kind of house that would have been occupied by Sir Hugh. I was able to visit it with my husband in 2014 when doing research for this story.
The name of the house is based on the Greyfriars Friary which was adjacent to this property before the dissolution of all the monastic houses by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. It is a good example of a late medieval merchant’s house and was built for Thomas Grene, a 15th century brewer and High Bailiff of Worcester. It seemed fitting for Sir Hugh who was Sheriff of Worcestershire at the beginning of the 15th century.
The picture above shows the back of the house which is quite different from the front facing Friar Street. Behind the house is a large garden which is not visible to people on the street but provides privacy for the family and their guests.
My husband and I also enjoyed the interior of the house which is two storeys, including rooms to receive guests, a parlour, a library, and bedrooms.
For more information on Greyfriars, click on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars,_Worcester
or http://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=3640
Tags: Chaucer's England, historical fiction, medieval mysteries