The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #7

This entry and post are a déjà vu from last year. In this entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby from 1526, we get to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day a day early, yet again! The entry was described as a reward to my Master’s valentine for Saint Valentine’s Day and was dated 13th February. His gift to his valentine was also again 4 pence, which is the equivalent of about £7.35 today.

So how was Valentine’s Day observed in Tudor times? St Valentine’s Day has more than one St Valentine martyrdom story attached to it although they tend to all contain the theme of performing illegal marriages in the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. In Roman times, St Valentine’s Day coincided with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which promoted purification, health and fertility … but not love and romance. The first recognised indication of Valentine’s Day being associated with love is in the 14th century, in the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer in his Parlement of Foules (Parliament of Fowls). By the 15th century, it was written that it was custom for people to “choose their love” on St Valentine’s Day.

Records also indicate that, for wealthy households in Tudor England at least, by the end of the 15th century it was also customary to give a gift on St Valentine’s Day. In fact, multiple sources mention the drawing of “lots” for whom to give a valentine to, very much in the mode of the modern Secret Santa! This observance, with its modern associations of romance and gift-giving, was further entrenched in society when, in 1537, King Henry VIII declared St Valentine’s Day to be a holiday in England. It was thus one of the few Christian feast days to survive the King’s religious reformation. From that time, the celebration of St Valentine’s Day became more and more popular.

Valentine's Day Workshop at Middleton Hall, 2025.

Next entry: 14th February

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.381.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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