Francis Dereham

Francis Dereham (c 1513 – executed 10 December 1541(1541-12-10)) was a Tudor courtier whose involvement with Henry VIII's fifth Queen, Catherine Howard in her youth, was a principal cause of the Queen's execution.

Early life

Francis Dereham was the son of John (Thomas) Derham, of Crimplesham in Norfolk, and Isabell, the daughter of John Paynell, of Boothby in Lincolnshire.

Relationship with Catherine Howard

Dereham is known for his sexual indiscretions with Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII of England long before she became queen, when she was aged fifteen. Dereham convinced himself that he loved her when their affair began late in 1538. Dereham had previously been having an affair with Joan Bulmer who lived in the same household in Norfolk House in Lambeth, but dropped her for Catherine Howard. Dereham's relationship with Catherine Howard came to an end when her music master, Henry Manox sent an anonymous letter to the Dowager Duchess. Manox, who had started a sexual relationship with the girl when she was only eleven, suggested to the Dowager she should visit Catherine's bedroom "half an hour after" going to bed, adding that "you shall see that which shall displease you." Dereham was sent away and Catherine was told off for her "banqueting by night" because she feared "it would hurt her beauty". David Starkey has argued that the Duchess was more concerned about her looks than her morals. Dereham was forced to go to live in Ireland where it is believed he resorted to piracy. Before he left he asked Catherine to look after £100. This money was the bulk of his savings and the Queen later admitted that he told her that if he did not return "I was to consider it as my own."

Dereham

Coordinates: 52°40′56″N 0°56′26″E / 52.682199°N 0.940445°E / 52.682199; 0.940445

Dereham (/ˈdɪərəm/), also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles (25 km) west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles (40 km) east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of 21.51 km² (8.31 sq mi) and in the 2001 census had a population of 15,659 in 6,941 households, the population at the 2011 Census increasing to 18,609. For the purposes of local government, Dereham falls within, and is the centre of administration for, the district of Breckland. The town should not be confused with the Norfolk village of West Dereham, which lies about 25 miles (40 km) away.

Since 1983 Dereham has been twinned with the town of Rüthen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is also twinned with Caudebec-lès-Elbeuf, France.

History

Early history

A Neolithic polished greenstone axe head was found near the town in 1986, with a Neolithic axe head, flint scraper and other tools and worked flints also found in local fields during the 1980s. There is evidence that the area was occupied during the Bronze Age, with burnt flints from a pot boiler site being found in 1976 and another burnt mound site located in 1987.

Dereham (disambiguation)

Dereham is a town in Norfolk, England, sometimes called East Dereham

Dereham may also refer to:

See also