Helen Johnson, Yorkshire Writer

Helen Johnson Freelance Writer

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Category Archives: Yorkshire

Yorkshire is England’s largest region. It has a unique heritage, and is much loved by its residents.

Finish writing one novel, begin another.

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Yorkshire roses

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 →

Posted in 11th Century, Fiction, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, fiction, historical fiction, The Great War, Yorkshire

The Harrying of the North and the Danes

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Helen Johnson
In the 11th century, Yorkshire was invaded many times.

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 →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

The Harrying – Unimaginable

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Richmond Castle, founded shortly after the Harrying of the North, to control northern England.

Helen Johnson considers the unimaginable horror of the Harrying of the North – then writes a historical novel about it. Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Helen Johnson
William the Conqueror

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 →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, History and Archaeology

Northern Power and the Danelaw

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Helen Johnson
Viking raiders terrorised England for nearly three centuries

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 →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

Christmas in Yorkshire

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Helen Johnson

Helen Johnson reflects on Yorkshire Christmas traditions. Continue Reading →

Posted in Festivals and Traditions, Yorkshire | Tagged Christmas, Festivals and Traditions, Yorkshire

Fulford, 1066

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Helen Johnson
The Battle of Fulford, 1066

The Battle of Fulford, 1066, was long and bloody.
Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

1066: The return of Earl Tostig

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Helen Johnson
11th century soldiers on the march

In my previous post about 11th century Yorkshire, Northern Powerhouse of 1065, I wrote about how northeners, fed up with mis-governenance under Earl Tostig, made a stand. Tostig was exiled, Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

Interlace – the Web of Wyrd?

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Helen Johnson
STONE-CARVED INTERLACE ON AN ANGLO-SCANDINAVIAN GRAVE COVER AT YORK MINSTER

Yorkshire and the North-East of England boast an impressive collection of Anglo-Scandinavian stone sculpture, skillfully carved with interlace. Gravestones, standing stones, crosses: pieces of stone built into the walls of Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

The Northern Powerhouse of 1065

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Helen Johnson
in 1065, the Northerners flexed their muscles by setting houses on fire. House on fire. Pic from Pixabay

We hear the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ soundbite from time to time.  But in 1065, a year before the Norman Conquest, the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ flexed its muscles. The ‘North’, the mythical place Continue Reading →

Posted in 11th Century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, History and Archaeology, Yorkshire

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