Sandra Spruce
I am retired after a career in management in ICI. I am full time carer looking after my sick and disabled husband. I love history, keeping my knowledge of the French language up to date + FL courses!
Location Sutton Weaver, Near Frodsham Cheshire
Achievements
Activity
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Thank you. I have really enjoyed this course. I also appreciated the views put forward by all the academics involved. I am sorry that it has come to an end. I like the way we looked at the real Mary and considered the facts rather than what has been put out there in popular fiction and the movie industry with money behind their actions. I have learned a great...
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Sandra Spruce replied to Katherine Meeten
I agree with you entirely. Of course, yet again we will never know, but Mary's formative years were spent in France. To all intents and purposes she became French. I feel they were the best years of her life. It seems to me when she returned to Scotland she returned to a place that was foreign to her, not to her homeland, the place of her birth. She was a...
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I dont either. I recently watched Spencer at the cinema. If it had been on the television I would have changed channels. I just feel that today historical fiction and films are often knowingly removed from truth and facts to attract sales of books and audiences. I had to read the above script slowly as I am not used to "Scottish spelling"". I just do not like it.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I was completely unaware of Mary comics. The problem with regard to 'novels' and films is that they are produced for an audience and are often far from the truth..
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Hardwick is on my "to do" list. I think Bess of Hardwick was an indomitable person who achieved so much in her life time. I do believe that she and Mary worked on embroideries and tapestries when Mary was living at Chatsworth. Thinking about it all I feel that Mary would have been happiest in France but if you think of her years of captivity in England then I...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Coins depicting the monarch are I suppose what we have become accustomed to. It is a means also of making the general public aware of the likeness of the person. Ordinary people did not travel much then (unless they were going to fight in a war) and they would not have access to books nor could they read. I am not surprised at the remembrance of Mary occurs in...
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I agree Marianne. I was familiar with the Sheffield portrait but had never given any thought to how she was portrayed. Very interesting
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I felt it was a heart felt letter written with great clarity of mind in that she was condemned to death and did not have long to live. It saddens me to hear that she was denied a priest. Yet she still thought of payment to her servants. She gave her brother in law gemstones. The tone of the letter to me (written by a devout catholic) did not make me feel that...
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Sandra Spruce replied to Pat Harvey
I agree and unless more new evidence is found, the discussions will continue. What I like about this course is that we can listen to the views of historians who are studying her and are trying to form opinions based on evidence. Sometimes I think historical novels are expanded to make stories that readers might want to hear.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I am enjoying this course immensely. I guess I knew more about the plotting in England and her early life in France than I did about her reign in Scotland. Her downfall really I think can be attributed to two bad husbands. I guess it was difficult for women to exert authority in those days and I can see better than ever why Elizabeth chose to remain the Virgin...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Cecil had eyes everywhere. His loyalty to Elizabeth was solid. Mary's involvement in the plots was foolish. There was no way in which she would win. In a way in the early days she was lucky that she was able to remain alive. However she kept doing the wrong thing. I wonder if she had been imprisoned for so long that reality escaped her. As we move from plot to...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I do not think that Mary would have engaged in such correspondence with Bothwell. She would know it would be dynamite. I do agree with the theory that the letters were in the style of French courtly poetry of piety. As the originals are not available we may never know. It is all so tragic. You think of how she must have felt when she returned "home" from...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I can better understand why Elizabeth decided to remain the Virgin Queen.
I feel Mary was outmaneuvered by Bothwell, who had his eyes on the throne all along. Consanguinity in the Middle Ages has always surprised me. Close relationships were known and accepted prior to marriage but then became a good reason to divorce. It was apparent with Eleanor of... -
Sandra Spruce made a comment
Yes, I guess I was surprised to learn that Mary and Bothwell had a longer term political relationship. The main reason for me is that I know so little about Scottish history. In some ways if you look outside the box, perhaps that is not surprising as monarchs of the day were served by powerful aristocrats. The Lords and Earls of the Day would want more power...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I think one of the biggest problems Mary had to deal with was lack of structure. Many years had passed since the death of her father. The Scottish Lords were powerful - but ambitious, each wanting more power. Even when Mary was still in France this would have been the case. John Knox and his obvious dislike of women did not help her case. She did not come out...
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Yes I agree. Lets throw in a third person - Bess of Hardwick - a very ambitious and successful person in her own right at that time. I would like to be a fly on the wall
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As I see things at the moment - she wasnt really in with much of a chance. She returned from France to what must have seen a foreign land. There was probably little formal structure with powerful Earls vying for power and authority. She was a woman whom they probably thought unfit to rule for that reason and a catholic when the country had adopted...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Brilliant. Have enjoyed week 1 immensely
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
This has really been my first introduction to Scottish history. It was never part of the syllabus! I feel that this week has shown us the happiest part of her life. Although she will give birth to a son and heir next week, I feel that her personal life will have declined. Two bad marriages is what I am expecting to be followed by Mary the Prisoner.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
A political pawn!
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I guess these were by far the happiest days of Mary's life. She ended up, to all extent and purpose, French. It is such a shame her husband died when he did otherwise things could have been so different. For her ultimately to return "home" to Scotland will have been so difficult. Language, culture and everything else would have been so foreign to her.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I really enjoyed Dr Blakeway's explanation of those times. I confess to knowing very, very little about Scottish history. I agree with her also that the phrase "Burning Times" is a better description.. I can see that Mary was valuable in the marriage market and appreciate the background behind walking away from the idea of marriage to Edward. With her mother...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
It just seems so sad. She probably didnt help herself time and time again. She had been brought up in France - a Catholic country. There was the rivalry between her and Elizabeth. I like the sentence above - Mary's story is tragic and fascinating.
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@AliciaHughes I tend to agree with Stephen J's comments and am grateful for your response. However I will watch this video again later when I can look at it in a more informed way. Right now it was interesting to listen to the different opinions.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I think of a young Queen of France who returned as a young widow to Scotland. Two disastrous marriages, a troubled and probably extremely unhappy life and a cousin who just so happened to be Queen of England. I really feel that, given Elizabeth's confidence and court structure, she could have held out a helping hand rather than having her killed.
Today she...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Looking forward to this course. Intend to go to the British Library in January to see their exhibition. That will mean more to me as a result of what I am going to learn over the next 3 weeks
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I am retired and live in England i guess my favourite period of history would begin with the Egyptians and finish at the end of the reign of Queen Elizbeth I (1603)
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Thank you for all the effort that has been put in to make this course so interesting. It covered so many different parts of the world, different customs, different thinking which I feel gave it the depth. Thank you also for the extra reading which we can plough through at our own pace.
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Sandra Spruce replied to Kathleen Dunlop
Yes I did too. I have still not quite got used to the use of "actors" though.
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Not that I am aware of but you can never say never. You have to keep abreast of current thinking
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You are right. The concrete buildings of the 50's -70's were monstrous. Runcorn and Winsford were extended and called New Towns to take population from Liverpool. A lot of the horrible buildings erected then have since been demolished. Responsible thinking and forward planning helps. Temple Bar is brilliant as you say
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@JohnS. I can remember travelling through part of Naples on a coach in the early 1970's en route to Capri. At the time it certainly did nothing at all to attract tourists. Now of course cruise ships visit regularly and apart from visiting Naples in its own right, it is the stepping stone for so many "must go to" places in the area. This change will inevitably...
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You are right David. We are yet to see what will be the future of cities post Pandemic. Some companies have said they intend to allow employees to work from home at least part of the time. Offices will then have hot desks to be used by whoever is in on the day. During and post lockdown it was strange knowing that so many large office buildings in London were...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Chester is blessed with Roman ruins which are recognised as being a key part of its heritage. In addition there is the cathedral, the rows and Tudor buildings. Sadly many shops are now empty which detracts. I personally think it is important to preserve buildings which represent part of our history. I confess that whilst I think some of the concrete...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Probably a lot of industrialisation started in the North West of England. Sadly for a variety of reasons so many of those businesses have gone now. But they are not dead. The Catalyst Museum in Widnes, once the home of the newly born chemical industry, is there to attract and educate children and adults. The work of the early scientists like Ferdinand Hurter,...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
A cultural heritage site brings so many opportunities and by working together and involving all concerned it has to be a win win. The site can be preserved, employment obtained for the locals and the interest a site has to offer brings in the tourists with all that entails.
For me I think of the pleasures I have experienced visiting well run sites in France...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Even in the UK you find that locals do not always show much interest in historical sights nearby and yet they are happy to travel a long way to see things in other parts of the country/other countries. I guess you could discuss the matter with examination boards and see if projects/visits could be incorporated for school children. Carthage is famous throughout...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
It is difficult really. For me personally the thing that I have taken from this course is that history has not represented facts as well as it could have, basically because learned scholars really could just read Greek and Latin scripts. I also did not realise that the Qu 'ran referred to Mary more than the New Testament. Having said all that, I feel that...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I learned for the first time that so many of the early Christians and Muslims lived in peace and harmony. I can understand that if scholars only read Greek and Latin then only one slant on the situation was put forward. If only the world had grown up with a more balanced view, it makes you wonder if the two religions could live more harmoniously today....
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Me too. It puts a whole different emphasis on things. It would be good to get more harmony. Brilliant video. It shows how merely reading Latin and Greek only gives part of the picture. A few documentaries on TV would not go amiss
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Totally agree. If I remember though when I visited a few years ago there was transport provided from Speke Hall to John Lennon’s old home in Liverpool. It was a very limited service but it was there. The National Trust is a brilliant organisation but it’s buildings need to be accessed by public transport. Rail might not be possible but coach would
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Sandra Spruce replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
@PeterA. Liverpool is now a lively and vibrant city. I agree with you. Furthermore the old rum warehouse is now the Titanic Hotel. The brickwork for what was a warehouse is amazing and I am so glad it has been restored. I believe the old tobacco warehouse is being converted to apartments without compromising the external design. The bascule bridge so close to...
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It has been mentioned in previous steps Jacqueline. I cannot get my head round the use of the word either
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
An excellent week. I have enjoyed it immensely.
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I have the same problem. You hear interpretations in today's world where people understanding far more than me can assess things and come up with learned interpretations, The problem for me is I cannot, however much I try, understand what it was like to live in ancient times. Consequently will I ever really be able to see things through their eyes? Then there...
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I agree with you. I will also say it needs a great deal of concentration and openness to put yourself in both Timothy and John of Damascus position and understand the logic of their arguments.
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Interesting thought! We could discuss this at length I think
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I tend to agree with you Beverley. I did not know, for example, that the Gospel of Judas even existed until I read it about 6 years ago.
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You are so right. The chimneys and smoke in Widnes in the 19th and early 20th century when the LeBlanc process was used to make alkalis. The churches etc were black on the exterior because of lack of filtration etc. However it was important back in the day. People excitedly invented products - found uses, improved processes and dumped what was not needed. It...
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@PeterA. There many others if we stop and think - the Macclesfield Silk Museum gosh there are loads. Interestingly many of the old Parish Schools still in use today were initially Sunday schools run by the church and then day schools after that.
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I must admit I was too. Perhaps it is not as dominant in many parts of the world as it used to be, but nevertheless churches, cathedrals, monasteries etc are still there reminding us of their importance,.
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You are so right. Perhaps as was mentioned, an elastic approach is best
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Inheritance, architecture, literature, music, theatre
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I guess from the point of view of Chester the tangible heritage would look to the cathedral, museum and evidence of Roman remains. The intangible would be the Chester Mystery Plays or the annual carnival on the River Dee.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I agree with the comments in the video. It encompasses so much but also could be deemed to be fragile and must be respected and protected. Everywhere is different and that is a good thing
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I live in a small village. Liverpool is about 25 miles away and Chester about 15 - two very different places today with different pasts. I shall choose Chester as it is closest. I guess Chester is famous for its Roman connections. A Roman legion was based there and in fact it was one of their strongholds. A Roman wall still exists today, together with an...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Until this course I knew nothing about the Quran. I guess I had never really compared and contrasted the Old and New Testament. I do think that the message is that Abraham was the founder of the faiths. I think the fact that his son was aware that he was to be sacrificed and yet went along with it was just incredible. A message for future generations. I also,...
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I am finding this interesting and challenging. Paul needed to make his message understood and accepted by the people of the day. I guess you could argue that he was "moving with the times and making his words relevant to the time he was living in".
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I really enjoyed listening to the two videos. Very informative. I think it is a section I will return to as the course progresses
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
great to find an interesting course I have not done!
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Sandra Spruce replied to Melyssa A.
I agree entirely. I would love to know more!
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I believe Cattelena to be the most independent. Having said that, it will be easier to live a single life in the countryside than in a city. A city brings pressures with it that are simply not there in rural environments. I would imagine that she was living around people who were leading more normal lives and the pressure to be a sex worker not as apparent. I...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I feel that Cattelena was not rich, but that she had quite a high standard of living. The cow gave her independence. I am interested in her bedding. For her day that seems quite a lot. I have recently watched TV programme on the plagues which hit the UK at approximately this time as well as before and after. So many people seemed to have little bedding and few...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
It will be interesting to learn how she arrived at Almondsbury but it seems to me that she has a good life. She is resourceful too and uses her precious cow to give her the means to earn an income and be independent. How did she get the cow in the first place I wonder. She seems at peace with herself and with the world.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Loved the talk for Gresham College
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I actually feel privileged to learn about these four people. As I see it they behaved impeccably and were well grounded. My gut feel is that they have all emerged well from their experience. This week we were introduced to Dederi Jaquoah. I believe he came to England under his own volition, took the training up with both hands and I feel was able to help his...
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@GeraldineR Times change, attitudes change and legislation changes. We cannot re-write history but we can all learn from it. The analogy with Jimmy Saville is so true. If only ..... We have a chance now to make the world a better place. Back in the day I guess most of the people were working within a different legislative framework. Today we should treat...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Nothing is guaranteed. It is the same today. I always feel that if you want to do business with anyone anywhere it is far far better to be able to speak their language.
Perhaps there was more risk involved in those days. If the going got tough, you could not hop on a plane and go home.
I think for the Africans they would be more successful with trade if...
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@EllaDrake Its a double edged sword. I agree with you Ella. If you are operating in a business environment you have to succeed and you have to change with the times. However I think Nancey has a good point. The king had trust. His son returned but you can see it was potentially risky. Dederi was obviously a very grounded young man
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I guess it happens in all walks of life. People have pre-conceived ideas. I think this encounter demonstrates that you should never assume
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Yes, we was sort of "put in his place". It made me smile.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I am looking forward to learning about African history. I confess to knowing very little.
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I had no idea that Portugal and Spain predated the English in what became known as the Slave Trade. Margaret I am sure the slave castles were difficult places to visit nowadays - much the same as some of the prisons in Germany from WW2. I liked the comparison with sci-fi. I am sure the local people will have been really frightened by this.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I love learning about the Black Tudors but I think my favourite this week just has to be the paintings. I loved each and every one of them - and Michael's enthusiasm
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Sandra Spruce replied to Rita Lamb
Yes there are so many similarities. I thought again Bamford mentioning the deaths in given periods up and down, sounded so like our experiences during the last 18 months. I guess areas of dense population have always been greatly affected and as Katrina mentioned above the need to "blame" is a universal thing. So interesting to compare and contrast then and...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I really appreciated all the portraits we have been shown this week. They are respectful, show characteristics and personality ranging from, I think, gentleness/kindness through to confidence. I also loved Michael's enthusiasm for his subject - it is infectious.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Ships will have been lost at sea, often heavily laden. The goods will have a price attached and in many cases if salvage was an option the merchants will have wanted it. Trading around the world was becoming more and more popular. As was explained to us, really people in Gt Britain did not swim so people like Jacques Francis will have been invaluable. I was...
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Sandra Spruce replied to Helen Yates
Yes I wonder how they would have manoeuvred the guns. The weight is incredible. I just cannot see how they would achieve this. May be we will find out.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Like many I can remember the Mary Rose being raised from the depths with a young Prince Charles watching intently. It amazes me that people like Jacques Francis were able to dive to the shipwreck without any of the gear that people would use today.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Thank you for the opportunity to study this subject. I have really enjoyed it and learned so much. It’s good to see courses like this one back on FL. During and after Covid the direction seems to have changed and so many really interesting courses have finished to be replaced by those supporting different careers.
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Sandra Spruce replied to Kath C
I have enjoyed this course and so much information has been made available to us. I do not think it would be disrespectful to include some remains to the public. As you suggest, it is how you do it. There would be an introduction to Roman Colchester at the time of the death of Col_20. At the appropriate point an introduction to this gentleman, how he may have...
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I am doing the FL course on Black Tudors and agree with you entirely
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Yes it would be amazing to add genealogy into all this! @PaulIngham
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
We have determined that he was affluent as a result of the standardised colour of the bones discovered. The pyre will have reached high temperatures and been managed by a professional. We have determined the respect paid to the individual at his funeral and the type of urn and possible location of burial. The important and most significant things still need to...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
My own wedding ring and my mother’s wedding ring. A scientific patent in my great grandfather’s name. A photograph of my daughter when she got her FRCR and a letter written to me by my grandmother. There are more but my treasures that mean something special to me are linked to my family
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Modern cemeteries are closely regulated. There are specific rules today as to the type of memorial used. We are mainly talking about headstones. H&SE is involved as I believe a child was once killed by a stone which fell over. The memorials at the beginning of the 20th century were much bigger - much more grandiose. There is a member of the cemetery staff...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
The video was extremely interesting. I feel that Col_20 was affluent as the bone colour was consistent. This would suggest a pyre with good quality wood and paid professionals to attend to it.
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Sandra Spruce replied to KERRI KNUCKEY
Yes I was surprised Kerri
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I would look to find age, sex, ethnicity, diet, cause of death,approximate date of death
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I am really looking forward to this course. I love ancient history. Had a DNA test and it confirmed my origins as North Norfolk. I have labelled myself as descended from a Boudicca warrior so this is especially interesting for me
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
Female, British, retired
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
It appears to me that there was no enslavement in those days and that people were free regardless of colour. I am still not certain in my own mind whether all those employed by the monarch were free in practice as I get the impression that their role was "to serve". I think I will understand far more as the course progresses.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I like the concepts of free soil and pure air of freedom and began to think of "This green and pleasant land"..... then I remembered those who were killed in Tudor England at the command of Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, to mention a few. Seriously though I found this chapter extremely interesting.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
On day 1 I knew absolutely nothing about Black Tudors. In one week I was interested to read about John Blanke - obviously a very talented musician. I also watched Walking in Tudor England where Jacques Francis was referred to in regard to diving down to the sunken Mary Rose. I had never seen the Westminster Rolls before. Actually it is sad and thought...
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Sandra Spruce replied to Doretta Colwell
I agree with you. Interesting though that the King agreed to his request for more money and even more so gave him a wedding gift.
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I found it extremely difficult to read - both with and without glasses! Magnifying equipment might have helped!
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
What I appreciate is that in week 1 of the course we have come across John Blanke and Jacques Francis (a diver on the Mary Rose referred to in the TV series "Walking in Tudor England". Both were obviously exceptional people. If only we knew even more about them. John Blanke was obviously an exceptional musician. He is shown in the Westminster Tournament Roll...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
It will have taken some time to create the Roll. There will be a degree of "imagination" in it I would think. Some could be sketched at the time and completed afterwards but detail would be hard. How close would the artists be? They did not have the benefit of photos to help with accuracy. I would have thought that perhaps they would endeavour to be as...
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Sandra Spruce made a comment
I feel John Blanke will have travelled with Katherine of Aragon from Spain. I am sure he was one of a small number of skilled Africans at the time. Worth mentioning I have just watched episode 1 of Susanna Lipscombe's "Walking in Tudor England" on TV. It seems there was an African diver employed to swim down to the wreck of the Mary Rose to bring up what he...