The Vowesses, the anchoresses, and the aldermen's wives : Lady Margaret Beaufort and the Devout Society of Late Medieval Stamford

This article investigates a hitherto overlooked example of a devout society centring on the household of Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509) at Collyweston in Northamptonshire and the market town of Stamford in Lincolnshire. Margaret’s influence on Stamford has been dismissed as minimal due to her seemingly limited involvement in the town’s political affairs. This article reassesses Margaret’s relationship with Stamford by arguing for her place at the heart a flourishing spiritual community, whose members were united by their geography and commitment to Carthusian ideals. Ultimately, it demonstrates that Margaret’s belonging to this society contributed to the articulation of her authority in spiritual terms.