This petition is about increasing recognition and raising awareness of Lady Katherine, The Duchess of Lancaster, popularly known as Katherine Swynford. We have clear evidence of exceptional qualities and abilities in Duchess Katherine’s evolution from a relatively modest position in Society to - for a time - being the highest-ranking lady in England. She was a loved and respected stepmother to King Henry IV, and great-great-grandmother of King Henry VII.

AIM: COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION NOT PRESSURE

The aim of this petition is to establish interest in, and support for, increasing the recognition and public awareness of Lady Katherine, especially in and around the Cathedral, in the historic and beautiful city of Lincoln, in England. It would need action and authorisation from Cathedral and City authorities and local people.

The aim of the petition is not to put pressure and responsibilities on the institutions and residents, who already face many demands, responsibilities and challenges, but to establish what support there is, and what practical measures can be taken. If there is sufficient interest and support, funding will need to be sought and/or raised. It will need initiative, skills, effort and collaboration.

WAYS TO COMMEMORATE AND RAISE AWARENESS OF DUCHESS KATHERINE, FORMERLY DAME KATHERINE SWYNFORD

• Information/storyboards about Lady Katherine’s life.
• A statue – either of Duchess Katherine; or Duchess Katherine and her daughter Joan, The Countess of Westmoreland; or a group statue (or frieze along the lines of the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother memorial on The Mall in London: https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/38/10/2381094_7ed93606.jpg) of The Duchess, John of Gaunt, the Beauforts, John Beaufort junior, Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII, plus Joan Beaufort (daughter of Joan Beaufort senior and her husband James I of Scotland); possible extras could be Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
• Replication of original tomb monument, e.g. brasses (but not on the tomb in the Cathedral itself).
• Blue, or other, plaques at 11 Minster Yard (long known as the Chancery, now known as the Deanery), where Dame Katherine lived at times as the widow of Sir Hugh Swynford; the house known as the Priory, close to Priory Gate; the Cathedral itself.
• Other ways as suggested by Lincoln citizens and those interested in Duchess Katherine.

WHY IS THE DUCHESS OF LANCASTER, FORMERLY DAME KATHERINE SWYNFORD, IMPORTANT IN LINCOLN AND BRITISH HISTORY?

Duchess Katherine started out in life as the daughter of a relatively humble knight, Paon de Roet, from Hainault in modern-day Belgium. He came to England in the retinue of Philippa of Hainault, daughter of Wilhelm the Count of Hainault and Holland, for her wedding to Edward III in York. Less than two weeks before Philippa and Edward’s wedding, Philippa’s sister was crowned Empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire at the same time as her husband was crowned Emperor.

Katherine de Roet was probably born about 1350, more than 20 years after the wedding of Edward III and Queen Philippa. Katherine and her sister, also Philippa, seem to have been brought up in, or at least under the support of, Queen Philippa’s household. Katherine married a knight, Sir Hugh Swynford, whose main holdings were at Kettlethorpe about 10 miles north-west of Lincoln, with holdings at Coleby, about 6 miles south of Lincoln. Her sister Philippa married the world famous and revered pioneering English language poet Geoffrey Chaucer.

Dame Katherine seems to have been attached at times to the household of Lady Blanche, The Duchess of Lancaster, first wife of John of Gaunt, and mother of the future King Henry IV. Lady Blanche died in September 1368 at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. Sir Hugh Swynford died in 1371, leaving Dame Katherine a widow. In June 1372, Edward III assigned Dame Katherine her dower, which, most unusually, put her in charge of her son Sir Thomas Swynford’s estates until he attained his majority.

John of Gaunt married Costanza of Castile as his second wife, and Dame Katherine, along with her sister Philippa, joined the household of Duchess Costanza. At some point after the death of Sir Hugh Swynford John of Gaunt and Dame Katherine became lovers. Dame Katherine gave birth to four children by John of Gaunt who survived into adulthood. They were given the surname Beaufort.

What makes Dame Katherine and John of Gaunt’s story exceptional is that after the death of his second wife, John of Gaunt married Dame Katherine, making her The Duchess of Lancaster. They persuaded the Pope to legitimise the Beaufort children in the eyes of the church. Richard II and Parliament were persuaded to legitimise the four Beaufort children legally, which made them Royal and able to inherit titles and property.   

John of Gaunt clearly wanted to strengthen the Lancastrian line. Henry of Bolingbroke (who became Henry IV after Richard II abdicated and Parliament chose Henry as his replacement) was the only adult male Lancastrian heir. Even so, the now Duchess of Lancaster must have had great qualities and abilities for John of Gaunt to defy very rigid social structures and conventions, marry a woman who was the daughter of one knight and the widow of another, and in so doing raise her to the status of the highest ranking lady in England for the period until Richard II remarried. This caused a furore! Especially among the royal ladies over who Katherine took precedence…

Once he had become King Henry IV, Duchess Katherine’s stepson referred to her as ‘the King’s Mother.’ Duchess Katherine was also held in high regard by Richard II who was extremely hostile to Henry of Bolingbroke. That indicates a lady of considerable interpersonal and diplomatic skills.

John Beaufort, eldest son of Duchess Katherine and John of Gaunt, was created The Earl of Somerset by Richard II. He is buried in Canterbury Cathedral with his wife Margaret Holland. They had a son, John Beaufort junior, created Duke of Somerset, who married Margaret Beauchamp. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset had a daughter Margaret Beaufort, whose son Henry defeated Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth and became King Henry VII.

John Beaufort senior, The Earl of Somerset, also had a daughter called Joan Beaufort, who is said to have been the inspiration for King James I of Scotland’s poem The Kingis Quair. Joan married King James and their wedding feast was celebrated at the London home of Henry Beaufort, Winchester Palace. Henry Beaufort was the second son of Duchess Katherine and John of Gaunt. He was Chancellor of Oxford University, and then Bishop of Lincoln before becoming Bishop of Winchester. The great-great-great granddaughter of James I and Joan Beaufort Queen of Scots was Mary Queen of Scots, mother of James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England.

Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmoreland, buried next to her mother Duchess Katherine in Lincoln Cathedral, had a daughter called Cecily Neville. Cecily married Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, great grandson of Edward III through his fourth surviving son Edmund of Langley. Richard and Cecily had a son Edward, who became Edward IV by taking the throne by force from Henry VI, grandson of HenryIV who had been appointed King by Parliament, and possibly ordering his death. Edward IV’s brother took over the throne as Richard III after Edward’s death. After Richard III’s death during the Battle of Bosworth, the new King Henry VII married Edward IV’s daughter Elizabeth.

While Dame Katherine was certainly based for much of the time at Kettlethorpe, and Sir Hugh was away a lot as part of John of Gaunt’s retinue, Dame Katherine seems to have had a home in Lincoln from quite an early stage. She is definitely known to have lived for substantial periods at 11 Minster Yard (long known as The Chancery, currently known as The Deanery) and the house (near Priory Gate, and set back a little from Pottergate) known as The Priory. She may have lived at one or more other properties, either rented or as guests of senior people at the Cathedral. Duchess Katherine certainly had a close relationship with the Cathedral, and her tomb is in the Cathedral of course, close to the High Altar with her daughter Joan Beaufort, The Countess of Westmoreland, beside her.

ACKNOWLEDGING HARD WORK AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING DUCHESS KATHERINE AND HER SIGNIFICANCE

We must acknowledge the major contributions that have been made to the study and awareness of Duchess Katherine.

• Firstly, Anya Seton, whose acclaimed and lastingly popular novel ‘Katherine’ has introduced  so many people to the Duchess and enchanted them. 
• Marchette Chute, whose biography ‘Geoffrey Chaucer of England’ first focussed Anya Seton on Duchess Katherine, and who encouraged Anya Seton in writing the novel. 
• John H Harvey wrote the fine study ‘Katherine Swynford’s Chantry’ in the Lincoln Minster Pamphlets series. 
• Professor Anthony Goodman has written a number of books, pamphlets, articles and lectures all based on rigorous research, relating to John of Gaunt and Duchess Katherine, as well as Professor Goodman’s wife Jackie’s valuable research. 
• Dr Roger Joy, founder and longstanding chair,  whose energy, enthusiasm, drive and intellect was the engine that drove the Katherine Swynford Society for many years until his passing in 2020.
• Judy Perry of the United States who has contributed much painstaking and rigorous research, and brought pleasure to many through her writing. 
• Jeannette Lucraft who wrote the first full length book about Katherine Swynford, the Duchess of Lancaster and set a very high standard. 
• Alison Weir who wrote the popular biography about Duchess Katherine and significantly widened the audience. 
• Nathen Amin who wrote the book ‘The Beauforts’ – an outstanding accomplishment - and gives compelling talks. 
• Lesley Smith, a magnetic, very gifted lady who transfixes and entertains with her portrayals of Dame/Duchess Katherine. 
• Baroness Hogg (author of the wonderful read ‘Katherine’s House’) and her husband Viscount Hailsham, both very distinguished and accomplished people who live in Kettlethorpe Manor and have been so generous over the years hosting those interested in Duchess Katherine at the site of her former home. 
• The people of Kettlethorpe and Kettlethorpe Church, who welcome visitors, and curate Duchess Katherine’s story for them at Kettlethorpe, keeping the church and ground beautifully.
• Karyn Agrali, Dianne Coe, Linda Salkeld and Jennie Robinson, the dedicated committee members of the Katherine Swynford Society. 
• Dr Nicolas Bennett, former Vice Chancellor and Librarian of Lincoln Cathedral and his wife Carol who have made invaluable contributions. 
• Lastly, but certainly not least, the people of Lincoln Cathedral and the city who are so welcoming, hospitable and supportive to those interested in Duchess Katherine.

STATUS OF THIS PETITION

This petition aims to establish interest, ask for ideas and generate support. It is not intended to bring pressure to bear on Lincoln Cathedral and the citizens of the beautiful and historic city of Lincoln, both of which many of us love deeply. It is posted by me as a private citizen, after comments from and conversations with, people interested in Duchess Katherine. I am not a Lincoln resident (though my ancestors are from Lincolnshire for centuries). I have long loved the city. While I was for some years Vice Chair of the Katherine Swynford Society, and for a time Chair, I am not currently a committee member, my contributions are confined to research and writing, with occasional talks. Family care demands have a strong bearing on this. Any issues people have with this petition are my responsibility alone, not any society, body or institution.