Queen Elizabeth I - museum?

Question

hi there, i am really interested in the history of queen elizabeth I.....i would love to visit somewhere that i could see artifacts relating to her life, maybe letters she has written, jewellery she has worn or anything similar. i am not very clued up on museums etc, can anyone reccomend anywhere that i should visit? many thanks for your help

Answer 1

As far as I know, priceless artifacts belonging to Queen Elizabeth I are usually stored away in museums or by private collectors, and only put on display for public viewing during special events and once in a lifetime "exhibitions." The biggest collection of Queen Elizabeth I's personal items and paintings ever seen were on display in London to mark the 400th anniversary of her death in 2003.

The National Maritime Museum's exhibition (2 May to 14 September 2003) brought together over 350 objects to explore the life and reign of this extraordinary woman. Among the items on show will be jewelery worn by the queen, love letters, her first speech and rarely seen portraits.

It was also a rare opportunity to see the orpharion - a musical instrument similar to a lute that was made for the queen and is now in the hands of a private collector. The exhibition also includes her first speech. It is addressed to her Secretary Sir William Cecil and the Lords of Mary's Council and was delivered three days after the death of her sister.

The accompanying catalogue and the Web content follow the sections of the exhibition, looking at aspects of Elizabeth I's life and times from her birth at Greenwich Palace in 1533 to her death at Richmond Palace in 1603. Such rare exhibitions are opened to the public for a limited time only, which applies to both national and world tour exhibitions.

Answer 2

Yes, there was a wonderful exhibition of her at Greenwich; I saw it and was fascinated.  I'm sure, though, that there will be other exhibitions to come, and tour.

Unfortunately, there isn't - as far as I know - a museum devoted to her in the UK.  If you can manage it, I recommend a visit to Hatfield House.  The Old Palace there (only the Great Hall left) is where Elizabeth spent many of her young years:

"Hatfield is ... supposedly haunted by its former royal resident, as well as by a "veiled lady," and a mysterious "spectral coach" led by "ghostly horses" that occasionally makes its way up the drive to the house, through the doors and up the stairs. Back in this world, Hatfield is almost entirely devoid of the more touristy aspects of many castles. About the only disappointment at Hatfield is that touring of the Great Hall is limited to viewing it at a slight distance from an alcove. That sense of disappointment can be easily assuaged, however, by both the beauty of Hatfield House, which is an excellent example of Jacobean architecture and interior design, and by the many reminders of Elizabeth I that are scattered throughout. Among these are a hat, pair of gloves, and pair of silk stockings that are said to have belonged to her, and the impressive and iconic Rainbow Portrait of the Queen, which was painted around 1600. But perhaps the most important aspect of Hatfield is that it is one of the few former residences of Elizabeth I that still exists, even in part, today.

Perhaps it's this feeling of personal connection with Elizabeth I as you walk through Hatfield House that makes this place so special among Britain's many historic royal homes."

http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articl...

There are other great houses that contain some of her personal effects, but that would take a lot of googling!  Sudeley Castle holds what is believed to be her christening robe (top pic):

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/q...

You might find these sites of some interest:

http://www.folger.edu/html/exhibitions/e...

http://www.marileecody.com/eliz1-images....

http://www.elizabethtudor.co.uk/page9.ht...

http://www.britannia.com/history/monarch...