# Rosemary Griggs: Notes from Devon's Tudor Time Traveller

Tudor history with a special focus on Devon and the Champernowne family. Insights from the research that underpins my Daughters of Devon Historical Fiction novels and my forthcoming book about Kat Ashley, Queen Elizabeth's Childhood Governess.

Page: <https://rssamplifier.com/rosemarygriggs-substack-com>  
Feed: <https://rssamplifier.com/rosemarygriggs-substack-com.md>

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## [My holiday reading](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/my-holiday-reading)

_2026-08-18 · Rosemary Griggs_

Four books about amazing women from different eras.

## [A visit to Holy Trinity Church, Stratford on Avon](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/a-visit-to-holy-trinity-church-stratford)

_2026-08-15 · Rosemary Griggs_

Renewing my acquaintance with George Carew, a Devon man who probably knew William Shakespeare

## [In search of Katherine Swynford](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/in-search-of-katherine-swynford)

_2026-08-08 · Rosemary Griggs_

Governess, mistress, Duchess of Lancaster and ancestor of royalty

## [John Astley, Elizabeth I’s Master of the Jewel Office (c.1507- 1 August 1596)](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/john-astley-elizabeth-is-master-of)

_2026-08-01 · Rosemary Griggs_

The quiet man at Kat Ashley’s side for twenty years

## [The Spanish Armada threatens Devon](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/the-spanish-armada-threatens-devon)

_2026-07-25 · Rosemary Griggs_

This time, to mark the anniversary of the Spanish Armada’s arrival, I’m sharing an excerpt from my novel, Mistress of Dartington Hall.

## [The End of a Life of Loyal Service - updated](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/the-end-of-a-life-of-loyal-service-bd4)

_2026-07-18 · Rosemary Griggs_

I'm sending out an updated version of this post as it seems there was a minor problem with overprinting in a couple of places when viewing in some browsers. Hopefully that's now fixed.

## [The End of a Life of Loyal Service](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/the-end-of-a-life-of-loyal-service)

_2026-07-18 · Rosemary Griggs_

On this day, July 18th, 1565, a woman known to fans of Tudor History as ‘Kat Ashley' died. Born Katherine Champernowne, she later became John Astley’s wife. I prefer to call her ‘Kate.'

## [Fortunes Fold](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/fortunes-fold)

_2026-07-11 · Rosemary Griggs_

Kat Ashley’s nephew, Sir Walter Raleigh, and his home at Sherborne

## [Old King Cole, a pirate fighter or just a Devon ship owner?](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/old-king-cole-a-pirate-fighter-or)

_2026-07-04 · Rosemary Griggs_

Myths and legends surround a relative of Kat Ashley

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_2026-07-04 · **Sponsored**_

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## [A wedding celebration that changed the course of history](https://rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/a-wedding-celebration-that-changed)

_2026-06-27 · Rosemary Griggs_

June 1559: Henri II of France suffers a mortal wound in a jousting accident.