Blog | mythical-britain

Michael Smith

Aug 31, 20203 min read

Dryslwyn Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales

A brief history and description of the evocative and dramatically-sited castle at Dryslwyn. Much remains to impress the visitor today.

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Pleshey and Great Canfield Castles – Two Norman Mottes in Essex

Michael Smith, Mythical Britain

May 25, 20205 min read

Pleshey and Great Canfield Castles – Two Norman Mottes in Essex

A detailed look at two magnificent Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Essex: Great Canfield and Pleshey. Both are well worth the trip to see

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Michael Smith

Feb 20, 20206 min read

Castell Dinas Bran, Denbighshire, Wales

A history of Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales, including a detailed site description and photogrpahs.

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The Brereton Tomb, St Oswald's Church, Malpas, Cheshire

Michael Smith

Feb 14, 20206 min read

The Brereton Tomb, St Oswald's Church, Malpas, Cheshire

A detailed look at the magnificent tomb of Sir Randal and Lady Eleanor Brereton at Malpas, Cheshire. A fine example of Chellaston work.

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Holt Castle, or Castle Lion, Denbighshire

Michael Smith

Feb 9, 20206 min read

Holt Castle, or Castle Lion, Denbighshire

A description, history and site interpretation of Holt Castle, Denbighshire with photography and links to other information sources.

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Degannwy Castle - a stronghold brought to ruin by revenge

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Jan 6, 20205 min read

Degannwy Castle - a stronghold brought to ruin by revenge

A brief history of Degannwy (Deganwy) castle in North Wales, with a description, photographs and useful links.

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Book Review: Hollow Places by Christopher Hadley

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Sep 2, 20194 min read

Book Review: Hollow Places by Christopher Hadley

Hollow Places is a fascinating examination of how legends grow through time and yet have a basis in truth. A stunning examination of the leg

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Review: Green Knight - a mediaeval lady's real thoughts on knighthood and chivalry

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Jul 9, 20196 min read

Review: Green Knight - a mediaeval lady's real thoughts on knighthood and chivalry

A review of Dr Debbie Cannon's magnificent play about Lady Bertilak and her love for Sir Gawain - as seen from the point of view of The

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Cookham, Taplow and the Pyschogeography of the Thames Valley

Michael Smith, Mythical Britain

Jun 8, 20194 min read

Cookham, Taplow and the Pyschogeography of the Thames Valley

The landscape of the Thames valley between Windsor and Maidenhead has an extraordinary and spiritual atmosphere if you clear your head of th

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Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire - a wonder in the fens

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Mar 18, 20195 min read

Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire - a wonder in the fens

Bolingbroke Castle is a special castle with a history fundamentally linked to the history of England. Built on an hexagonal plan, the castle

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Book Review: The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Feb 19, 20194 min read

Book Review: The Castle at War in Medieval England and Wales

Dr Dan Spencer's book on the Medieval castles is a valuable and accessible guide to castles - not what they are but where they appear in

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Making a linocut print of King Arthur and Excalibur for my new book

Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Feb 16, 20194 min read

Making a linocut print of King Arthur and Excalibur for my new book

This article shows the process involved in researching and printing a four colour linocut print of King Arthur and Excalibur. The image will

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Michael Smith, Author, Translator, Printmaker

Oct 24, 20184 min read

The Battle of Agincourt, 1415

An overview of the revolutionary tactics used by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt 1415.

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The church of St John the Baptist, Barnack, Cambridgeshire – an astonishing Anglo-Saxon survival

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

Sep 5, 20184 min read

The church of St John the Baptist, Barnack, Cambridgeshire – an astonishing Anglo-Saxon survival

A brief tour with photographs of the astonishing Anglo-Saxon (and later) church of St John the Baptist at Barnack, Cambs. A truly remarkable

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The historic landscape at Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

Aug 12, 20183 min read

The historic landscape at Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire

A description of the astonishing motte and bailey castle at Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, with its historic earthworks and man-made landscape

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Illustrating my new translation of the Alliterative Morte Arthure (King Arthur's Death)

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

Aug 11, 20182 min read

Illustrating my new translation of the Alliterative Morte Arthure (King Arthur's Death)

A new translation of the epic fourteenth century story of King Arthur's Death by Michael Smith will feature over 32 stunning linocut ill

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In search of the De Veres - St Nicholas Church at Castle Hedingham

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

Jul 22, 20184 min read

In search of the De Veres - St Nicholas Church at Castle Hedingham

St Nicholas Church in Castle Hedingham, Essex contains a rich collection of Norman, mediaeval and Tudor work. Of particular interest is a ra

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The Mediaeval Graffiti at Anstey, Hertfordshire

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

May 23, 20183 min read

The Mediaeval Graffiti at Anstey, Hertfordshire

Learn about the fabulous mediaeval graffiti at Anstey in Hertfordshire, including shields, helmets, writing and more.

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The Age of Chivalry - Inspiring my Books and Prints

Michael Smith, printmaker, Mythical Britain

Apr 18, 20183 min read

The Age of Chivalry - Inspiring my Books and Prints

The Fourteenth Century holds a real fascination for me; particularly the fashion and ethos of the later days of the Age of Chivalry. In this

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Book Review: The East Country - Almanac Tales of Valley and Shore

Michael Smith, Mythical Britain

Mar 11, 20182 min read

Book Review: The East Country - Almanac Tales of Valley and Shore

I read a lot of books when undertaking my research into printmaking but occasionally my mind is drawn by something different. Just such a...

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