Welcome to the Mythical Britain Blog

Written by Michael Smith, the Mythical Britain Blog provides detailed insights into a range of historical and literary topics including Middle English poetry, medieval castles and churches, Arthurian romance, historical geography, prehistoric sites, and historiography. The blog also reviews books, film and theatrical performances of relevance.

Tarn Wadling and the supernatural landscape of Arthurian Cumberland

A lost, mysterious lake near High Hesket, Cumberland, provided the setting for a series of Arthurian romances written in the fifteenth century and now largely lost to time. Here, Michael Smith explores its reputation and cultural influence.

Michael Smith

2 days ago9 min read

Image of a man on horseback from the pages of a medieval manuscript

Old age and the Reeve in the Canterbury Tales

The Reeve in the Canterbury tale gives us a remarkable insight into how folk in the middle ages viewed old age, and how they looked to the future.

Michael Smith

3 days ago6 min read

Painted alabaster effigy of fifteenth century knight

The medieval magnificence and Ricardian riches at the church of St Michael at Stanton Harcourt

The church of St Michael in Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire is place rich in medieval features dating from the mid twelfth century onwards and includes some remarkable effigies from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Michael Smith

Dec 15, 20255 min read

Common People in William of Palerne?

William of Palerne (The Romance of William and the Werewolf), ca. 1350, features a variety of characters from working life who are often ignored in medieval romance. But who were these 'common people' and why does the scribe feature them?

Michael Smith

Nov 28, 20256 min read

Monk and two werewolves in a medieval manuscript

Bisclavret the werewolf

The lais of Bisclavret, a poem by Marie de France about a knight condemned to roam abroad as a werewolf, is remarkable for what it tells us about twelfth century morality and how men and women were treated differently. This articles summarises the story and reflects upon its meaning.

Michael Smith

Nov 11, 20258 min read

linocut image of Sir Gawain riding his horse Gringolet

The haunting literary landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The literary landscape of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a powerful evocation of a magical possibility existing at the fringes of our known imagination. How does the poet evoke this?

Michael Smith

Nov 3, 20258 min read

The death of Wat Tyler during the Peasants' Revolt - from a medieval manuscript

The Alliterative Revival - lessons from a time of tyranny which still hold true today

The poems of the Alliterative Revival may date from the fourteenth century but their content has much to tell us about the need for good government today - and how to avoid the tyranny of terrible leaders we are starting to see.

Michael Smith

Oct 26, 20259 min read

Image of Gawain and Green Knight from the manuscript in the British Library

Overal enker-grene – the symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has often been attributed to the supernatural. But is there a simpler reason behind the poet's choice, one based on narrative technique and audience expectation?

Michael Smith

Sep 29, 20257 min read

King Alfred and the Danes on the River Lea, 895

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles tells us that in 895 King Alfred trapped the Danes on the River Lea in Hertfordshire. But was this possible and where did this happen?

Michael Smith

Sep 25, 20259 min read

Nave of church showing medieval brass of knight and lady

The medieval brass to John and Alice Wilcotes, St Michael and All Angels, Great Tew, Oxfordshire

The church of St Michael and All Angels contains a wealth of architectural wonders and historic features. The brass to Sir John and Alice Wilcotes is certainly amongst them and is a particularly fine example of its type.

Michael Smith

Sep 17, 20257 min read

Church and detached belfry at Richard's Castle, Herefordshire

A history and description of Richard’s Castle, Herefordshire

Named after its original founder, Richard Fitz Scrob, the village of Richard's Castle in Herefordshire is home to one of the few motte and bailey castles to be built in Britain prior to the Norman Conquest. The associated church of St Bartholomew also contains elements from the Norman period.

Michael Smith

Sep 14, 20256 min read

sketch of putative chalk figures at Wandlebury

T C Lethbridge and the lost Gogmagog giant of Wandlebury

The excavations by T C Lethbridge at Wandlebury in the mid 1950s revealed a frieze of chalk figures unknown to history but which caused considerable controversy at the time. His book in defence of his arguments met with condemnation but his work continues to attract attention nearly 70 years later.

Michael Smith

Jul 19, 202510 min read

The historic city mounds at Moundville, Alabama

Active between ca. 1050 and 1450, the great mounds and palisaded settlement at Moundville, Alabama, offer a remarkable contrast to contemporary life in medieval Europe.

Michael Smith

Jul 12, 20253 min read

Effigy to Sir Robert de Keynes at Dodford

The marvellous medieval monuments at St Mary the Virgin church, Dodford, Northamptonshire

The church of St Mary the Virgin at Dodford in Northamptonshire has a rich collection of medieval effigies and monuments spanning three centuries. A visit is highly recommended.

Michael Smith

May 15, 20254 min read

Medieval monumental brass to Sir John de Cressy at Dodford

Knights and their ladies - some medieval monumental brasses in England

Monumental brasses in English churches provide a fascinating insight into society, fashion and aesthetics. In this post we look at a variety of brasses from Essex, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, dating from between 1350 and 1580.

Michael Smith

May 13, 20256 min read