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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think Cromwell

95 replies

Justanotherdramalama · 06/09/2025 04:25

If you were visiting a castle in England and the name Cromwell was mentioned numerous times. Who would automatically come to mind?

OP posts:
Chiefangel · 06/09/2025 07:51

Oliver.
Corfe Castle’s destruction amongst many castles.
And also The Richard Harris film.

GloryFades · 06/09/2025 07:49

Oliver

Gallivant · 06/09/2025 07:46

Richard.

Just to be perverse.

Toomanywaterbottles · 06/09/2025 07:43

Castles- Cromwell.
Monasteries - Thomas

CeciliaDuckiePond · 06/09/2025 07:42

It would depend how old the castle was and what its 'headline' historical association was. If it was Henry VIII I'd think Thomas; if it was the Civil War I'd think Oliver.

35pEnergyDrink · 06/09/2025 07:41

CanadianJohn · 06/09/2025 04:53

Oliver... I associate castles with armies and warfare, so Oliver would be my choice. If it was a palace, I'd probably be thinking Thomas.

Same.

Plus Thomas is always referred to as “Crumb” in our house, following Wolf Hall!

WooleyMunky · 06/09/2025 07:40

Justanotherdramalama · 06/09/2025 04:25

If you were visiting a castle in England and the name Cromwell was mentioned numerous times. Who would automatically come to mind?

My friends' Staffy...

Thepeopleversuswork · 06/09/2025 07:37

HarrietBond · 06/09/2025 07:16

Cromwell as a single surname has always meant Oliver. He is a huge figure in British history.

Thomas Cromwell wasn’t all at well known until Wolf Hall (he wasn’t even Henry VIII’s best know minister called Thomas!) so I’d usually expect someone to use both his names talking about him even now.

They were distantly related as well weren’t they? Or did I imagine this…

Thepeopleversuswork · 06/09/2025 07:36

Both. Interesting how split the results are too. Prior to Wolf Hall coming out I would imagine most people would have said Oliver.

BMW6 · 06/09/2025 07:27

TheDandyLion · 06/09/2025 07:18

Oliver. I'm not familiar with a Thomas.

Not heard of Thomas Cromwell?

Instrumental in the Bible being printed in English?
Henry VIII's right-hand man?
Engineered Anne Boleyn's demise?
Advanced Protestantism immeasurably?
The Dissolution of the Monasteries?

I presume you are not British?

Zonder · 06/09/2025 07:23

Oliver was your castle man.

Sparklesandspandexgallore · 06/09/2025 07:22

Oliver

TheDandyLion · 06/09/2025 07:18

Oliver. I'm not familiar with a Thomas.

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 06/09/2025 07:18

Oliver for castles, Thomas for monasteries

LlynTegid · 06/09/2025 07:17

Oliver, unless there was a connection to Henry VIII.

Never sure which one was worse.

PaddlingSwan · 06/09/2025 07:17

Oliver. Proof that the UK does not do well as a republic.

HarrietBond · 06/09/2025 07:16

Cromwell as a single surname has always meant Oliver. He is a huge figure in British history.

Thomas Cromwell wasn’t all at well known until Wolf Hall (he wasn’t even Henry VIII’s best know minister called Thomas!) so I’d usually expect someone to use both his names talking about him even now.

nellietheellie75 · 06/09/2025 07:15

Oliver

Rightandwrong · 06/09/2025 07:14

It was Oliver's name that jumped straight into my mind. Plus a visual picture of Alec Guiness as Charles 1 in the film Cromwell..

Dippythedino · 06/09/2025 07:14

Thomas

REDB99 · 06/09/2025 07:14

It definitely depends on the context of Cromwell being said. In a castle talking about battles / defences etc I would think Oliver.
But I’m a huge Wolf Hall trilogy fan so seeing Cromwell in your post title Thomas came to mind first.

Sausagenbacon · 06/09/2025 07:13

Why?
And what's the AIBU?

Oliver, because he had lots of castles’slighted’, or deliberately damaged to prevent them being used again for defence.

totally sensible imo.

oldphotosandlilies · 06/09/2025 07:12

CanadianJohn · 06/09/2025 04:53

Oliver... I associate castles with armies and warfare, so Oliver would be my choice. If it was a palace, I'd probably be thinking Thomas.

This

Itsnottheheatitsthehumidity · 06/09/2025 07:12

CKP1717 · 06/09/2025 07:07

What's Wolf Hall?!

Novel by Hillary Mantel, and a TV series.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 06/09/2025 07:11

Thomas.

Although prior to gaining an interest in Tudor history many years ago it would have been Oliver.

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