Not Just the Tudors Henry VIII's Reckoning: Pilgrimage of Grace
Jan 19, 2026
Join historian Andy Wood, an expert on early modern England and social unrest, as he unpacks the dramatic Pilgrimage of Grace. Discover how the dissolution of monasteries sparked a fierce rebellion in northern England, driven by both religious fervor and a desire to restore customs. Hear about key figures like Robert Aske and the complex interplay of local politics and spirituality. Andy reveals the rebels' disciplined organization and the eventual harsh response from Henry VIII, which forever altered the region's social fabric.
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Mass Pilgrimage As Loyal Restoration
- The Pilgrimage of Grace united tens of thousands across northern England under religious banners to defend monasteries and local order.
- The rebels saw themselves as loyal subjects seeking restoration, not traitors attacking the king.
Northern Monasteries Were Local Pillars
- Dissolution hit the north harder because monasteries there controlled local economies and offered generous tenancies.
- Northern religious culture was more conservative, so Reformation changes felt like a deeper rupture.
Enclosure Threatened Everyday Survival
- Enclosure privatized commons, cutting poor people's access to fuel, grazing and food gathering.
- The expansion of sheep and market-driven farming amplified hardship for the poor.
