Westminster Abbey

Now open

Jun 13, 2018

buildings, Events, religion

African Grey parrot, Frances Duchess of Richmond, Henry VII, John Betjeman, Mary II, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Ptolemy Dean, Star Chamber, Westminster Abbey, Weston Tower

As this Smithsonian article reveals, there is now an additional museum in Westminster Abbey – in the hitherto closed attic, admired by Betjeman. This triforium, now known as the “Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries” is built on the new Weston Tower, designed by Ptolemy Dean. Exhibits include Henry VII’s funeral effigy, an African Grey parrot owned…
What happened to Coldharbour on Richard III’s death. . . .?

May 4, 2018

anniversaries, battles, buildings, heraldry

Anne of Exeter, Barnet, british History Online, Coldharbour, College of Heralds, Cuthbert Tunstal Bishop of Durham, Edmund Earl of Cambridge, Edward II, Edward IV, Edward VI, Francis Earl of Shrewsbury, George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, Henry Holland Duke of Exeter, Henry IV, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Humphrey de Bohun, John Dudley Duke of Northumberland, John Holland, John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Mary Stuart, Richard II, Richard III, Sir John Abel, Sir John Poultney, Sir Thomas St. Leger, Westminster Abbey

Yes, another post about Coldharbour (above) which stood in Upper Thames Street, London. But this time it concerns an apparent omission in ownership. It is a known fact that after Bosworth, Henry VII turfed the College of Heralds out of Coldharbour and handed the property over to his mother, Margaret Beaufort. Isn’t it? I mean, there’s…
Was a chapel for the House of York planned at Westminster Abbey in 1483…?

Apr 18, 2018

anniversaries, buildings, religion, sources

Canterbury Cathedral, Chertsey, Dean Stanley, Edmund of Rutland, Edward IV, Elizabeth of York, Fotheringhay, foundation stones, George Duke of Clarence, Henry VI, Henry VII, John Steane, Lady Chapel, pilgrims, Pontefract, reburials, Richard III, royal tombs, St. george’s Chapel, St. Thomas, Tewkesbury Abbey, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle

A short while ago, I came upon a reference to the foundation stone of Henry VII’s chapel in Westminster Abbey (visible in this illustration of the abbey as it may have been in the Tudor period) have been laid first in April 1483. It was from here, as follows:- “. . .Elizabeth [of York] was given…
The Bones in the Urn again!…a 17th Century Hoax?

Mar 24, 2018

anniversaries, archaeology, buildings, Science, sources

“Popish Plot”, “Princes”, Charles II, Cleopatra, diaries, Dr. Creighton, Exclusion Crisis, Fair Rosamund Clifford, Helen Maurer, Henry VII, James VII/II, Jane Shore, Mary II, More, Parliament, Peter Lely, Richard III, Samuel Pepys, Sir Thomas Critchley, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall

UPDATED POST @ sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/the-bones-in-the-urn-again-a-17th-century-hoax/ 19th century painting of the Henry VII Chapel by an unknown artist. The entrance to the area where the urn stands is to the left of the tomb of Henry VII Helen Maurer, in her wonderful article, Whodunnit: The Suspects in the Case mentioned in the notes ‘As for why…
Who’s buried where in Westminster Abbey….

Feb 11, 2018

anniversaries, buildings, genealogy, religion

“Princes”, “Tudor” propaganda, Anne Mowbray, Charles Duke of Richmond, Edward IV, Elizabeth I, Elizabeth of York, George Villiers Duke of Buckingham, Henry VII, Katherine Manners Duchess of Buckingham, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Margaret Countess of Lennox, Mary I, Mary Stuart, royal burials, St. george’s Chapel, Stuarts, Westminster Abbey

Well, if you have the stamina, here’s a link that will tell you all about who’s buried where in Westminster Abbey. Including, of course, that urn, which a later dynasty decided should be in Henry VII’s chapel. Hmm. Wouldn’t you think it should have been at Windsor, alongside the boy’s father, Edward IV? But…
Is this the face of Lady Anne Mowbray….?

Jan 26, 2018

archaeology, buildings, genealogy, Science

“Princes”, Aldgate, Anne Mowbray, Bruce Watson, carbon dating, Charles II, dental evidence, DNA evidence, Dukes of Norfolk, Edward IV, Edward V, Henry VII, human remains, John Ashdown-Hill, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Minories, Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, urn, Westminster Abbey

Here is what little Lady Anne Mowbray may have looked like. She was the child bride of one of the so-called Princes in the Tower, the younger one, Richard, Duke of York. Her burial was recently extensively covered by sparkypus here. Now The Times has come up with an article about the reconstruction of this…
Another view on that urn

Dec 25, 2017

archaeology, buildings, genealogy, Science

“Princes”, Annette Carson, Charles II, coffins, denialists, Edward IV, Edward V, Glenn Moran, Helen Maurer, Henry Pole the Younger, human remains, John Ashdown-Hill, More, mtDNA, Nerdalicious, propaganda, Richard of Shrewsbury, royal tombs, Tower of London, urn, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle

This excellent post from Nerdalicious, whose tabs appropriately include “History of Folk and Fairy Tales”, shows just how desperately ridiculous the Cairo case really is, particularly when they treat More’s first half as a Fifth Gospel and ignore his second. After all, we have already shown that the small coffins buried with Edward IV are…
ANNE MOWBRAY – DUCHESS OF NORFOLK – HER REBURIAL IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Nov 19, 2017

archaeology, genealogy

Anne Mowbray, anniversaries, Bernard Barrell, bigamy, Duchy of Norfolk, Edward IV, Elizabeth Wydeville, Framlingham Castle, Henry VII, John Ashdown-Hill, John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Lady Elizabeth Talbot, Lawrence Tanner, Leman Street, Lord Mowbray, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, St Clare Without, St Stephens Chapel, Westminster Abbey

UPDATED POST AT sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/anne-mowbray-duchess-of-norfolk-child-bride-of-one-of-the-princes-in-the-tower-her-reburial-in-westminster-abbey/ St Erasmus in Bishops Islip’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey by Joseph Mallord William Turner c.1796. The original chapel of St Erasmus, built by Elizabeth Wydeville, was the site of Anne Mowbray’s first burial and after recovery of her coffin she was reburied in the rebuilt Chapel. Anne…
Don’t they know Henry VII’s calendar went backwards….?

Nov 12, 2017

battles

Battle of Bosworth, Coronation, Henry VII, Lady Margaret Beaufort, legislation, media, Richard III, Westminster Abbey

Well, well, here we have ten facts about Horrible Henry VII. Oh, dear, he won’t be pleased about one thing…the Express has mistakenly dated his reign from the 22nd. Oops. We ALL know it was from the 21st, because Henners told us it was! He was king before Richard was killed in battle. Richard was…
AVELINE de FORZ – AN EARLY PLANTAGENET BRIDE

Nov 10, 2017

anniversaries, buildings

Alfred Stothard, Aveline de Foix, Aymer de Valence, Blanche of Navarre, burials, Edmund Crouchback, Henry III, Minories, Stockwell Manor House, Westminster Abbey

Updated version of this post on Sparkypus.com Aveline de Forz an Early Plantagenet Bride – her tomb in Westminster Abbey Aveline de Forz tomb and effgy. One of the earliest tombs in Westminster Abbey. On this day, 10 November, 1274, died Aveline de Forz, Countess of Lancaster and Edmund ‘Crouchback’ Plantagenet’s first wife. Aveline was…