The Nevilles

As I've said before, Warwick for some reason was why I was first interested in the WoRs - after the Ladybird book, I think Kendall's Warwick the Kingmaker biography of him was the first book I read at Uni, and it wasn't on the syllabus.

So I'm glad to have finally completed these two Yorkist command stands - Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and his more battle-hardened  uncle, William Neville, Lord Fauconberg and Earl of Kent. The latter is accompanied by Edward Neville, 1st Baron Bergavenny - the figure pointing with the red cap. Like Fauconberg  another of Ralph Neville's sons and uncle of Warwick. Sources differ as to whether he was at Towton. There also seems to have been bad blood between Warwick and Bergavenny of inheritance.. Stuart on Army Royal has a piece devoted to his grandson, George, the 3rd Lord Bergavenny, with a template for his standard his banner.

 Whilst Warwick was clearly charismatic and an excellent political operator and recruiter, his two uncles had great military experience, during the end of the Hundred Years' War. Facounberg appears to have been a better military commander, and the year after Towton, he was again on Calais, raiding Breton lands. He died the next year, 1463.

Mourner on Richard de Beaauchamps tomb

There is an excellent blog, about writing fiction on the WoRs, which has numerous near contemporary images of Richard Neville, along with the mourner on his father-in-law, Richard de Beauchamp's, tomb at St Mary's Church, Warwick,  Until I read this site I hadn't realised that there were so many, produced within living memory of him.Sadly, I've lost the link but here are the two most common contemporaneous/near contemporaneous ones.

Warwick - Rous Roll

 The figures are as usual a mix of Perrys and Essex with a Front Rank trumpeter.

The figure of Warwick, is conversion of one of Essex Miniatures' best medieval figures - full gothic harness (I have three of them I liked its so much). I added a Perry polearm and a Warlord landskneckt capped head, to substitute for an arming cap.The flags are over paints of the Perry ones.

 

 

 The trumpeter is hand painted - its as good as I could do.

 I think that all the Yorkist bar some mounted figures I have planned for now.

Tewkesbury - The annual trip

A few of my favourite photos from the family visit to Tewkesbury.

And, excuse the pun, a small step to getting my own re-enactor's kit.