Answers to queries

In the Guest Book on 21 April 2008, 'Jo' writes: "Very interesting. Why no mention of John Goodchild, though?? Do you think his involvement with the Glastonbury chalice is wrong?"

For answer, I'll include part of a chapter from my longer biography (The Two Worlds of Wellesley Tudor Pole). As you might see, the Goodchild story is hard to pin down so I left it out of the more streamlined biography (The Cup and the Quest). Anyone who wants more on Dr. Goodchild can turn to Patrick Benham's excellent The Avalonians (Gothic image, 1993 and 2006).

For Dr Goodchild extract, click here

In the Guest Book on 08 July 2008, Mara Freeman writes: "I am wondering if you can help me with some research of my own: I am in the middle of writing a book, “The Mysteries of Avalon,” in which I’m planning to write about the finding of the Blue Bowl. I am looking for the scripts of the Mass that was said by the Allen sisters and Kitty Tudor Pole in Royal York Crescent, the bowl’s first home. Do you know where these might be? I have heard they may be in the archives of the Chalice Well Trust, but these are unfortunately unavailable to the public during 2008, as you no doubt know, so I have no way of checking this. I am hoping there might be copies elsewhere.

   As you say the Chalice Well archives are unavailable at present. However, I did consult them a few years ago and am trying now to remember what I saw. There was a foolscap sized hardback manuscript book containing many writings – chiefly in Janet Allen’s hand, I think – from the pre-1914 period. I suspect the scripts you seek may have been written in this book.
   Have you looked in The Avalonians? There may be something from the scripts there and, if so, that would indicate that Chalice Well is indeed the place to look, because I know Patrick Benham carried out extensive research there.
   Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

In the Guest Book on 21 August 2008, George Russell writes: "... might it be possible to post all of your material on the website?...           In Letters to Alexias, TP mentions that his correspondence with Lady Walburga Paget was deposited in the British Museum at some point with a constraint that the letters be available 50 years after her death. Have you looked into the possibility of examining those letters?.."

 Perhaps the best response might be to post another portion of the longer biography: Chapter 5, 'War Years: 1914-1917'. It includes some remarkable TP material, as well as a discussion of the Walburga correspondence, and can be found on the 'Longer Biography' page.