John, Lord Wenlock, of Someries, benefactor of St Marys Church Luton, probably buried there, is infamously called "the prince of turncoats."
About this event
John Wenlock (c1400-1471) inherited the manor of Luton from his ancestor William de Wenlock of Much Wenlock in Shropshire who is buried in a magnificent tomb at St Mary's.
Following his rise in station at the court of Edward IV, John expanded his hold in his native community and was responsible for building nearby Someries Castle. He was a major benefactor of St Marys Church, paying for the grand renovations of what is now known as the Wenlock Chapel. This site was certainly intended to be a family mausoleum.
Yet Wenlock operated on a much larger stage than Luton. He was a leading figure of his generation, a diplomat, courtier, and soldier during the Hundred Years' War and Wars of Roses. His expertise on the battlefield led him to be involved in many military campaigns, from campaigns in France during the 1420s to his death at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.
Wenlock's frequent changes of allegiance in the Wars of the Roses are the focus of a book published in 2022 on Wenlock's life and career. "Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John. Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses" by Dr Alexander Bronderbit seeks to shed new light on this complex character. We are excited to welcome Alex to St Mary's to help us know more about this barely known but very significant adopted son of Luton - perhaps as importantly, to consider how as Lutonians we should regard him!
Dr. Alexander Brondarbit is a medieval historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society specializing in late medieval England. He received his Ph.D. in Medieval History at the University of Winchester and an M.A. in Medieval Studies from King's College London. Dr. Brondarbit is the author of two books on the Wars of the Roses: Political Power-Brokers and the Yorkist State, 1461-1485 (2020) and Soldier, Rebel, Traitor: John, Lord Wenlock and the Wars of the Roses (2022). He is currently a Senior Academic Analyst at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.
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