How do we bring the people of the past to life in meaningful ways that engage contemporary audiences but also try to communicate wider stories about the reality of Tudor progress for individuals and communities in the past? That was the challenge we faced when trying to decide whose stories to tell as part of the Legacy strand of Henry on Tour.
In early conversations with our local partners and heritage organisations, we understood the need to connect our research with younger audiences; to engage, inspire and encourage the next generation of historians, archaeologists, musicians and performers with the progress story.
Having experienced a warm welcome from both the local Manor History Society and community in Lyddington, Rutland and English Heritage, who manage the Bishop's Palace, known today as the 'Lyddington Bede House', we decided to take the vote to the people! On a hot and sunny day in May 2024, we manned a stall at the annual village fair, presenting our research to date and inviting the local community to vote for their favourite local character to bring to life in a scripted, costumed film about the Royal Progress of 1541.
Finding the story
The resounding response was an interest in learning more about Edward Watson (1519-1584), the 21 year old Tudor courtier whose father, also Edward Watson, had been Registrar to the bishops of Lincoln and had married Bishop Smith's niece and secured the lease of the local prebendal estate. When he died in 1531, he left a powerful legacy of wealth, responsibility and ambition to Edward, who was then placed in Thomas Cromwell's household, learning a great deal, no doubt, from this charismatic Tudor courtier. When Cromwell fell from grace in 1540, Watson aligned himself with a new ally, the Lord Chief Justice, Edward Montagu of Boughton, by marrying his daughter, Dorothy.
In 1541, Edward Watson was living in the Prebendal House to the south of the church, with his new wife, but also his mother. Three years later, Edward Watson had successfully petitioned Henry VIII to grant him the lease of Rockingham Castle and Park. Rockingham was the site of a Royal hunting lodge, but, whilst hunting during his visit in 1541, Henry VIII was reported to have commented on the ruinous state of the medieval castle. Edward's pivotal role in a campaign of charm and diplomacy designed to transform his family fortunes and secure Rockingham for future generations seemed to be a compelling moment of history to bring to life. In 1544, Edward Watson secured the lease of Rockingham, moving into the Lodge whilst he rebuilt the castle into the fashionable Tudor mansion which is still so beautifully preserved by his descendants today:
https://rockinghamcastle.com/history/
Writing the script
Creating a script which brings the story of a real historical character with living descendants is a real responsibility. Nevertheless, Edward Watson just jumped off the page as a character we wanted to meet. We reflected on the resilience and charm which must have enabled this young man to navigate the trauma of losing his father so young, followed by his mentor, Cromwell, and yet enabled him to navigate the complex politics of the Tudor court to connect with Edward Montagu and his daughter, Dorothy. Just looking at their portraits helped us to connect with this meeting of hearts and minds - they must have been a formidable pair!
We decided that our film would locate Edward in the Bishop's Chamber - one of the most important and distinctive Tudor interiors to survive today, with its intricate carved, painted and gilded frieze which hosted the Privy Council in 1541. We created a script which would explain both Edward Watson's role in the visit, his sense of familial pride and connection to the area, but also his understanding of court politics and Henry VIII and his new young wife, Catherine Howard. We wanted Edward to share his - and his father's - ambition for Rockingham Castle - to connect his Lyddington with Rockingham - and hopefully encourage future visitor signposting and connections within and between these wonderful sites.
Meeting Edward Watson
Having written our script and procured our film company, Ignite Creative, we put out a call and auditioned recent graduates from the University of York's School of Arts and Creative Technologies. We were delighted at the response and, following some really impressive auditions, settled on recently graduated actor/trainee teacher George Young as Henry on Tour's Edward Watson.
Watch the full film below:
We are so grateful to Rob Negus and colleagues from English Heritage for enabling us to use Lyddington Bishop's Palace Chamber as the setting for meeting Edward Watson, and to the Watson family and Rockingham Estate for supporting our endeavours. We know there is a longer story to tell about how this Tudor courtier navigated the many challenges of his childhood to create a vision for his family's home.
We would love to re-connect with the older Edward Watson as he continues to hold to his values and beliefs in a rapidly-changing world… so please watch this space for future opportunities to catch up with the Watson family - and of course their loyal servant Dupup!
