Episode 101 - Woman at war: Eleanor de Montfort at Dover Castle

This week we’re travelling back to the 13th century to tell the story of the woman at the centre of the 1265 siege of Dover Castle. Eleanor de Montfort was the wife of the powerful earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort. He led baronial opposition to King Henry III, which spilled out into conflict in 1263. A year into the war, Henry and his heir Prince Edward were captured at the Battle of Lewes, and Simon become the de facto ruler of England. But Prince Edward escaped from captivity in May 1265 and began to turn the tide of the war. In August, Eleanor's husband and son were killed at the Battle of Evesham, and Eleanor was left isolated in her stronghold of Dover Castle.

Joining us to pick up the story is English Heritage curator of collections and interiors for the south east region, Kathryn Bedford.

To discover more about Eleanor de Montfort, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/eleanor-de-montfort

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