John Strecche Canon of Kenilworth by Geoffrey Hilton published 2004 by the author at Kenilworth
The Life and Times of a Medieval Historian
Though this agreeable little book is very much a product of Kenilworth, where the author is Secretary
of the Local History and Archaeology Society, it is noteworthy that the only hard facts known about its
subject place him firmly within medieval Rutland. As Geoffrey Hilton observes: ‘we have only two
manuscripts by John Strecche and we know only two dates in his later life’. These dates are of his
appointment as Prior of Brooke in 1407 and his retirement as Prior in 1425.
Despite this dearth of certainty, Geoffrey Hilton nevertheless manages to tell a convincing and detailed
tale of Strecche’s life as a chronicler and a canon of Kenilworth. Strecche’s slim claim on posterity is his
two volumes of history that now reside in the British Library. They seem to be the usual fare of
medieval chroniclers; bizarre legends of Albion, of struggles with the giant Gogmagog and Britain’s
founding by Aeneas’s great grandson Brutus. That one chronicler copied another is well known but
Hilton uses this fact well to determine Strecche’s sources and where he departs from the traditional
narratives.
Strecche is at his best when his history reaches his own time – of course. This is especially so when
‘history’ comes to Kenilworth, as it did in the aftermath of the Battle of Shrewsbury when the wounded
Prince Henry was brought for treatment to the Priory. The chronicle ends with the death of Henry V in
1422 but as Hilton concedes, this makes Strecche more a Rutland historian than a Warwickshire one –
since it seems the bulk (if not all) of his work was done at Brooke.
This study is to be recommended. Hilton plays his few cards well and avoids the temptation to
speculate too wildly. The physical writing of the chronicle, how Strecche would have prepared his
parchment and ink, for example (which occupies much of chapter 6) is a good example of Hilton’s
relevant and interesting diversions. Work on the manuscripts continues – a copy is lodged at the record
office in Warwick – so we may fairly expect more on Strecche, medieval Kenilworth and perhaps even
the priory at Brooke.
Robin Jenkins
Keeper of Archives, Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Rutland History Society Newsletter
John Strecche Canon of Kenilworth by Geoffrey Hilton published 2004 by
the author at Kenilworth
The Life and Times of a Medieval Historian
Though this agreeable little book is very much a product of
Kenilworth, where the author is Secretary of the Local
History and Archaeology Society, it is noteworthy that the
only hard facts known about its subject place him firmly
within medieval Rutland. As Geoffrey Hilton observes: ‘we
have only two manuscripts by John Strecche and we know
only two dates in his later life’. These dates are of his
appointment as Prior of Brooke in 1407 and his retirement
as Prior in 1425.
Despite this dearth of certainty, Geoffrey Hilton nevertheless manages to
tell a convincing and detailed tale of Strecche’s life as a chronicler and a
canon of Kenilworth. Strecche’s slim claim on posterity is his two volumes of
history that now reside in the British Library. They seem to be the usual fare
of medieval chroniclers; bizarre legends of Albion, of struggles with the
giant Gogmagog and Britain’s founding by Aeneas’s great grandson Brutus.
That one chronicler copied another is well known but Hilton uses this fact
well to determine Strecche’s sources and where he departs from the
traditional narratives.
Strecche is at his best when his history reaches his own time – of course.
This is especially so when ‘history’ comes to Kenilworth, as it did in the
aftermath of the Battle of Shrewsbury when the wounded Prince Henry was
brought for treatment to the Priory. The chronicle ends with the death of
Henry V in 1422 but as Hilton concedes, this makes Strecche more a Rutland
historian than a Warwickshire one – since it seems the bulk (if not all) of his
work was done at Brooke.
This study is to be recommended. Hilton plays his few cards well and avoids
the temptation to speculate too wildly. The physical writing of the
chronicle, how Strecche would have prepared his parchment and ink, for
example (which occupies much of chapter 6) is a good example of Hilton’s
relevant and interesting diversions. Work on the manuscripts continues – a
copy is lodged at the record office in Warwick – so we may fairly expect
more on Strecche, medieval Kenilworth and perhaps even the priory at
Brooke.
Robin Jenkins
Keeper of Archives, Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Rutland
History Society Newsletter
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