Helen Johnson Freelance Writer
Bladesmith After two years living with an 11th century teenager, I finished writing my novel of the Harrying of the North. Bladesmith tells of Gudrid, an 11th century Yorkshire blacksmith’s Continue Reading →
Who were the Danes? When the Danish fleet arrived in the River Humber in September 1069, they were greeted with rejoicing. English resistance fighters flocked to them. The combined armies Continue Reading →
Helen Johnson considers the unimaginable horror of the Harrying of the North – then writes a historical novel about it. Continue Reading →
As you know, in recent years, I’ve begun writing fiction. As we’re all locked in now, I thought I’d share a short story I wrote a while back, about someone Continue Reading →
In my last blog post, I wrote about William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions. He wished to rule as a just, legal, God-appointed King. So, what went wrong? William the Conqueror Continue Reading →
The trauma of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England resonated for centuries. But England had seen other invading kings – not least Cnut, only fifty years before. What was different Continue Reading →
In an earlier post, the Northern Powerhouse of 1065, I wrote about a northern revolt in 1065. It was, however, only one of a long chain of north/south power struggles. Continue Reading →
Helen Johnson reflects on Yorkshire Christmas traditions. Continue Reading →
Half-term is coming, and the shops are full of gear for kids to go Trick or Treating on Halloween. Dressing up in fancy-dress and begging treats at Halloween became popular Continue Reading →
For over two centuries, the towering brick walls of a prison dominated the centre of Northallerton. But now, they have been torn down and reduced to rubble. While developers wait Continue Reading →