If you look up Tilbury Port on Google maps the satellite version shows Henry VIII’s fort to the east of it. Its design is absolutely amazing from the air. Follow Fort Road north and it bends to the east as Cooper Shaw Road then becomes Church Road as it comes into West Tilbury village. I believe it was here, on the ridge overlooking the Thames, that Elizabeth made her Armada speech, apparently near the village church, which now is a private house; this is what I was taught many years ago. This is about a mile and a half from the river and fort, which Elizabeth could have seen from her vantage point on the higher ground. What we today call Tilbury, with the port, did not exist then, it came into being in the 1880’s partially to accommodate the activities of the East India Company.
I know I haven’t answered the question, but for Tudor enthusiasts the layout of the fort from the air is worth a look for its own sake.
Can anyone post links to portraits of Elizabeth on horseback at the "Tilbury review"? Painting, print, I seem to recall there being a mural-- but from the reign of Elizabeth or of James I, not, say, a Victorian fantasy of the event.
Thank you. That's exactly the one I was sort of remembering. I assume the rider in front of her, who seems to be in armour, is the Earl of L? Interesting, in view the recent post on breeds of horses, that his steed seems to be maybe four to eight inches taller than her's, but still not all that big.
If you look up Tilbury Port on Google maps the satellite version shows Henry VIII’s fort to the east of it. Its design is absolutely amazing from the air. Follow Fort Road north and it bends to the east as Cooper Shaw Road then becomes Church Road as it comes into West Tilbury village. I believe it was here, on the ridge overlooking the Thames, that Elizabeth made her Armada speech, apparently near the village church, which now is a private house; this is what I was taught many years ago. This is about a mile and a half from the river and fort, which Elizabeth could have seen from her vantage point on the higher ground. What we today call Tilbury, with the port, did not exist then, it came into being in the 1880’s partially to accommodate the activities of the East India Company.
ReplyDeleteI know I haven’t answered the question, but for Tudor enthusiasts the layout of the fort from the air is worth a look for its own sake.
Can anyone post links to portraits of Elizabeth on horseback at the "Tilbury review"? Painting, print, I seem to recall there being a mural-- but from the reign of Elizabeth or of James I, not, say, a Victorian fantasy of the event.
ReplyDeleteIs this the one you mean? (Sorry the file is a little large, I haven't resized it for the gallery yet):
ReplyDeletehttp://tudorhistory.org/blogpics/elizabeth-tilbury.jpg
Thank you. That's exactly the one I was sort of remembering. I assume the rider in front of her, who seems to be in armour, is the Earl of L? Interesting, in view the recent post on breeds of horses, that his steed seems to be maybe four to eight inches taller than her's, but still not all that big.
ReplyDelete