Alison Weir at Lincoln Cathedral

 On Saturday 14 March I had the pleasure of attending a talk by historian Alison Weir on Katherine Swynford in the beautiful setting of the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral.

It was a glorious spring day in Lincoln and the Chapter House looked particularly magnificent. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting vivid colours across the stone walls and floor. Anyone familiar with the space will know how dramatically it can change with the weather; on a grey day it can feel rather cold and cavernous, but in bright sunshine it becomes a wonderfully atmospheric place in which to listen to history being brought to life.

Alison spoke for around fifty minutes about the life of Katherine Swynford. Her talk was eloquent, engaging and inspirational, and it was clear that the audience was captivated by the story she told. The structure of the talk followed the central arguments of her biography of Katherine, but what made it particularly effective was the way she interspersed the narrative with quotations from Chaucer and other contemporary chroniclers. These voices from the medieval world helped place Katherine firmly within the cultural and political context of the fourteenth century.

One aspect of the talk that particularly struck me was Alison’s effort to “rehabilitate” the reputation of John of Gaunt. In popular history Gaunt is often portrayed in a rather negative light, yet Alison emphasised his achievements and his steadfast loyalty to the English crown. It was a thoughtful and balanced perspective, and one that I suspect deserves more attention. It also reminded me that this is something I should address more fully in my own talks about Katherine.

The event itself was clearly a success. The Chapter House was well filled, the audience attentive, and there was a real sense of enthusiasm for Katherine’s story. It is encouraging to see such interest in a figure who for so long has been somewhat overlooked outside specialist circles. Perhaps it also signals that Lincoln Cathedral is continuing its journey in recognising the significance of Duchess Katherine within the history of Lincoln.

Finally, I must thank Alison Weir for such a wonderful talk. She came across as both charming and generous with her time, remaining afterwards to speak with members of the audience, sign books and pose for photographs. I was delighted to have my own copy of her biography signed, which will serve as a pleasant reminder of an enjoyable and memorable afternoon.