Lunchtime talk by Penny Forsdyke on the life of Katherine Swynford, with complimentary tea or coffee.
Penny Forsdyke is taking the stage at Lincoln Castle on Saturday 27 February 2027 for a lunchtime talk on Katherine Swynford, a woman who spent her life moving between the roles of royal mistress and royal wife. It's a proper deep dive into a life that sat right at the centre of some of the most chaotic years in English history, and Forsdyke, who comes from the Friends of Lincoln Castle, is the one leading the session.
Swynford's story doesn't stand on its own; it's woven into the Hundred Years' War, the deposition of Richard II, and the fallout from the legitimisation of the 'Beaufort Bastards'—the children she had with John of Gaunt. The talk looks at her relationship with Gaunt and her close ties to the Cathedral, and it follows the line from her to the powerful children and grandchildren who went on to play their part in the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudors. It's one of those lives that lets you see the bigger picture of the era through a single person.
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It's a lunchtime slot, so it's a good one if you fancy a bit of history in the middle of your Saturday. The talk runs from 13:00 to 14:00 at the Castle, on Castle Hill, Lincoln LN1 3AA. Tickets are £5 per person, and that includes a complimentary tea or coffee, so you've got your drink sorted while you listen. One thing to keep in mind: capacity is limited to 30 people, so booking in advance is essential if you want to make sure you get a spot.
