Hi, I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
How I can help you...
My latest youtube video
Tobacco in Tudor and Stuart England
From Sacred Plant to Public Menace
Sir Walter Ralegh may get the credit, but tobacco’s story in England started long before he lit up — and it’s far more surprising than ...you might think.
In this video, we explore how tobacco travelled from sacred Native American ceremonies to Tudor England’s courtly circles. From its use in healing rituals to its rise as a fashionable trend—and finally to King James I’s fiery condemnation in A Counterblaste to Tobacco—this is the fascinating tale of how one plant sparked one of history’s first public health debates.
We’ll look at how sailors, explorers, physicians, poets, and monarchs all played a part in the spread (and backlash) of this smoky habit. From nose cancer to nose-wrinkling monarchs, Tudor tobacco was anything but boring.
Let me know in the comments—were you surprised by any of these tobacco twists?
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more intriguing dives into Tudor life, culture, and controversy.
#TudorHistory #TobaccoHistory #SirWalterRalegh #KingJamesI #CounterblasteToTobacco #OnThisDay #HistoryTube #TudorLife #ElizabethI #16thCentury #EarlyModernMedicine #TobaccoFacts
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Tobacco in Tudor and Stuart England
From Sacred Plant to Public Menace Sir Walter Ralegh may get the ...
From Sacred Plant to Public Menace
Sir Walter Ralegh may get the credit, but tobacco’s story in England started long before he lit up — and it’s far more surprising than ...you might think.
In this video, we explore how tobacco travelled from sacred Native American ceremonies to Tudor England’s courtly circles. From its use in healing rituals to its rise as a fashionable trend—and finally to King James I’s fiery condemnation in A Counterblaste to Tobacco—this is the fascinating tale of how one plant sparked one of history’s first public health debates.
We’ll look at how sailors, explorers, physicians, poets, and monarchs all played a part in the spread (and backlash) of this smoky habit. From nose cancer to nose-wrinkling monarchs, Tudor tobacco was anything but boring.
Let me know in the comments—were you surprised by any of these tobacco twists?
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more intriguing dives into Tudor life, culture, and controversy.
#TudorHistory #TobaccoHistory #SirWalterRalegh #KingJamesI #CounterblasteToTobacco #OnThisDay #HistoryTube #TudorLife #ElizabethI #16thCentury #EarlyModernMedicine #TobaccoFacts
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join
Subscribe to my channel at https://www.youtube.com/@anneboleynfiles?sub_confirmation=1 so you don't miss my latest videos!
Visit linktr.ee/claireridgway to find resources, events, social media links and more.
You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Happy 16th Birthday to my channel!
Wow! 16 years of sharing Tudor history videos!
Wow! 16 years of sharing Tudor history videos!
Scholar, King, and Unifier of Crowns - James VI and I
On this day in Tudor-Stuart history, 19th June 1566, King James VI of ...
On this day in Tudor-Stuart history, 19th June 1566, King James VI of Scotland and I of England was born at Edinburgh Castle—an infant who would one day unite two ...crowns and leave a lasting legacy on British history.
The only son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley, James became King of Scotland at just 13 months old following his father’s murder and his mother’s forced abdication. Raised as a Protestant in a volatile Scotland, James matured into a politically astute and scholarly monarch.
In 1603, he succeeded Queen Elizabeth I of England, uniting the thrones and becoming the first monarch to rule both Scotland and England. His reign was marked by events both dramatic and defining: the Gunpowder Plot, the publication of the King James Bible, witch hunts, and his vision for a united Britain.
James was a complex figure — a believer in the divine right of kings, a published author on monarchy and morality, a man whose close male relationships stirred controversy, and a ruler who sought peace over war.
In this video, we explore the life, reign, and legacy of one of the most fascinating monarchs in British history.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into Tudor and Stuart history!
#JamesVI #JamesI #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #OnThisDay #GunpowderPlot #KingJamesBible #MaryQueenOfScots #BritishMonarchy
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
No time? No problem - Join my new Boleyn sisters event your way
🎥 Can’t make it live? No problem! ✅ All talks & Zooms are recorded 📩 ...
🎥 Can’t make it live? No problem!
✅ All talks & Zooms are recorded
📩 You can even send your questions in advance
👑 Be part of the conversation—your way!
🎟️ Spots filling fast: ...ClaireRidgway.com
#TudorHistory #BoleynSisters #OnlineEvent #AnneBoleyn #MaryBoleyn #ClaireRidgway #LearnFromHomeShow More
NEW EVENT: Mary & Anne Boleyn – Two Sisters, One King 👑 | Join Me for This 8-Day Tudor Experience!
Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn: Two Sisters, One King – a brand-new ...
Mary Boleyn and Anne Boleyn: Two Sisters, One King – a brand-new online event exploring the powerful, scandalous, and often misunderstood lives of two of Tudor history’s most fascinating women.
Join ...me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, for this immersive 8-day experience featuring:
✅ Six new video talks
✅ Daily Zoom Q&As
✅ Bonus pre-event Zoom sessions
✅ A recommended reading list
✅ A chance to connect with fellow Tudor history lovers
We’ll go beyond the myths and headlines to discover how these two sisters helped shape English history—and why their legacy still resonates today.
🎟️ Spaces are limited and the event is already nearly half full!
Book your place now: 👉 https://claireridgway.com/events/sisters
#AnneBoleyn #MaryBoleyn #TudorHistory #BoleynSisters #ClaireRidgway #HistoryEventShow More
Coming tomorrow!
🔥 Are you ready? Tomorrow I reveal something I’ve been working on for ...
🔥 Are you ready?
Tomorrow I reveal something I’ve been working on for weeks—a special online experience for those of you who love Tudor history as much as I do.
It’s engaging, ...interactive, and packed with brand-new content on two famous sisters whose stories shaped England.
Can you guess who they are? Share your answer in the comments below.
#Tudors #ClaireRidgway #TudorHistoryEventShow More
Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Son: Henry Fitzroy
On this day in Tudor history — traditionally 15th June 1519 ...
On this day in Tudor history — traditionally 15th June 1519 — Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate but much-loved son of King Henry VIII and Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, was born at the Priory of St ...Lawrence in Essex.
Acknowledged by his father and showered with titles, Fitzroy was raised for greatness. At just six, he became Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Earl of Nottingham, and Knight of the Garter—unprecedented honours for a royal bastard.
He was educated like a prince, married into the powerful Howard family, and held top-level posts including Lord Admiral and President of the Council of the North. There were even whispers he might be legitimised and named heir.
But in July 1536, aged only seventeen, Fitzroy died suddenly—likely from tuberculosis—just weeks after witnessing the fall of Anne Boleyn. His father was devastated.
Had Fitzroy lived, could he have succeeded his father as king? Was England robbed of a strong, adult heir? Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Tudor history stories.
#TudorHistory #HenryFitzroy #HenryVIII #BessieBlount #OnThisDay #RoyalBastards #TudorHeir #16thCentury #HistoryTube #TudorPrince #AnneBoleyn
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Visit linktr.ee/claireridgway to find resources, events, social media links and more.
You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
The Dastardly Richard Rich: Tudor Villain or Political Survivor?
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more Tudor deep dives. ...
How the Tudors Slept: Rituals, Remedies, and Nighttime Beliefs
Tossing and turning at night? The Tudors may have had the answer. In ...
Tossing and turning at night? The Tudors may have had the answer.
In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of Tudor sleep—where bedtime wasn’t just about rest, but about ...health, virtue, and even the soul. From feather mattresses and “sleep tight” rope beds to nighttime prayers, herbal pouches, and warm possets, sleep in Tudor England was a carefully managed ritual.
Did you know Tudors often had a first sleep and second sleep, waking in between to read, pray, or talk quietly by candlelight? Or that the wrong sleeping position could disrupt your digestion—or invite nightmares?
Join me as I explore what the Tudors believed about sleep, how they prepared for bed, the beds they slept in, and how their nightly habits could still teach us something today.
Whether you're a history lover or a fellow night owl—this one’s for you.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more glimpses into daily life in Tudor England. Sleep tight!
Here's a recipe for a Tudor posset made from eggs, milk, ale and cinnamon and ginger, which could also be infused with rose or lemonbalm - http://www.historiesofsleep.com/2017/06/27/little-moreton-halls-sleep-remedies/
Further reading:
Sleep in Early Modern England – Sasha Handley
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall/features/how-we-used-to-sleep
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Maria de Salinas - The Loyal Friend Who Defied a King
On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1516, Maria de Salinas married ...
On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1516, Maria de Salinas married Lord Willoughby of Eresby. But this Spanish noblewoman would be remembered not for her marriage, but for ...her fierce loyalty to Queen Catherine of Aragon.
Maria’s story is one of deep friendship, political influence, and unwavering devotion. She followed Catherine from Spain to England, stood by her through triumph and tragedy, and, in the end, defied royal orders to be with her dying friend.
In 1536, when Catherine was banished and gravely ill at Kimbolton Castle, Maria risked everything. She rode through a bitter winter storm, suffered a riding accident, and still pushed on—claiming to have lost her permission papers, just to reach Catherine’s side. She arrived just in time. The queen died the next day.
Join me as I explore the extraordinary life and character of Maria de Salinas—friend, mother, fighter, and one of the most loyal women in Tudor history.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more true Tudor tales.
#MariaDeSalinas #CatherineOfAragon #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #WomenInHistory #TudorCourt #TudorQueens #RealFriendship #TudorEngland #SpanishNoblewoman #KimboltonCastle #LoyaltyAndLove #HistoricalWomen #TudorDrama #AnneBoleynFiles
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Anne Boleyn Crowned Queen - A Day of Splendour and Symbolism
On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her ...
On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her triumph.
After six years of struggle, scandal, and seismic political and religious change, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of ...England in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Dressed in purple velvet, barefoot and crowned with the Crown of St Edward—a crown usually reserved for monarchs—Anne processed through a sea of blue cloth, surrounded by nobles, clergy, and the hopes of a dynasty.
This wasn’t just a coronation. It was a carefully orchestrated show of legitimacy, power, and divine approval.
Join me as I take you through every detail of this extraordinary day—from the riverside arrivals and the grand abbey ceremony to the 80-dish banquet and Anne’s moment of glory beneath a cloth of estate… all while the king watched from the shadows.
This was Anne Boleyn at her height. Her triumph. Her crowning moment.
Watch now to relive the grandeur of 1st June 1533.
#AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #OnThisDay #AnneBoleynCoronation #HenryVIII #TudorDynasty #WestminsterAbbey #CrownOfStEdward #HistoryLovers #BritishMonarchy #HistoricalReenactment #WomenInHistory #RoyalCoronation
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You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Tudor Timekeeping: Bells, Clocks, and a Bit of Bling
Ever wondered how people in the Tudor period told the time—long before ...
Ever wondered how people in the Tudor period told the time—long before smartphones or wristwatches? In this video, I explore the fascinating ways our medieval and Tudor ancestors kept track ...of their day.
From monastery bells marking the canonical hours to the rise of mechanical town clocks in the 14th century, Tudor timekeeping was far more advanced than you might expect. We’ll look at sundials, water clocks, astrolabes, and even the incredible astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace. And yes—there were watches in Tudor England! Anne Boleyn owned one, and Elizabeth I had several, including a gift from Robert Dudley.
Plus, I’ll share why you sometimes hear the chimes of my village clock tower in the background of my videos—and how that links us back to the soundscape of the past.
Step back in time with me to discover how the Tudors measured their hours—and why timekeeping was as much about bells, beauty, and status as practicality.
#TudorHistory #AnneBoleyn #ElizabethI #TudorTechnology #Timekeeping #MedievalHistory #TudorLife #OnThisDay #TudorEngland #HamptonCourt #HistoricalClocks #HistoryNerd
Links:
Henry VIII portrait - https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw03080/King-Henry-VIII-King-Henry-VII
Anne Boleyn clock - https://www.rct.uk/collection/30018/anne-boleyn-clock and https://strawberryhillhouseblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/362/
Hampton Court - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Court_astronomical_clock
Early Mechanical Clocks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock#Early_mechanical_clocks
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Visit linktr.ee/claireridgway to find resources, events, social media links and more.
You can find my books on Amazon at http://viewauthor.at/claireridgwayShow More
Online Events
I regularly host online Tudor history conferences to connect Tudor history lovers with Tudor historians all from the comfort of their own homes. They comprise talks, live events, live Q&A sessions and resources, and are educational and fun.
Check out the Events tab to find out about my latest event.
The Tudor Society
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The Anne Boleyn Files
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As featured in...
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.
Praise for Claire's work
"Claire's blog - recently made available in book form - is more rigorous than that of many professional historians." Susan Bordo, author of The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen
"A sumptuously illustrated and impeccably researched history about the domestic life of a family that shaped British history. This is a fascinating window into both the Boleyns' lives at Hever and upper-class life on the eve of the Reformation." - Gareth Russell, Author of Young and Damned and Fair, on The Boleyns of Hever Castle.
"I've been a history buff all my life, both as a reader and as a writer. I thought I knew about Anne and her Boleyn family, Henry VIII and his court, but this book [The Anne Boleyn Collection] fills in so many blanks for me that I will read it more than once...This is a book for the legion of Tudor fiction readers, who want to know the stories behind the myths, the truth behind the legend...Absolutely fascinating read. " - Jeane Westin, Author of His Last Letter
"Claire has produced another must read for Anne Bolyen fans." Leanda de Lisle, author of Tudor: The Family Story, writing about "The Anne Boleyn Collection II.
More about me
I founded the Anne Boleyn Files in 2009, the Tudor Society in 2014 and I have a popular YouTube channel.
I help Tudor history lovers all over the world learn more about history, connect with experts and like-minded people, and uncover the facts behind the fiction, all from the comfort of their own homes.
I'm a former teacher and a recognised expert in Tudor history, and, as the founder of The Tudor Society, I've built a community of history lovers and experts where members can share their passion for history and receive accurate resources and information.
Claire Ridgway's Books
