RETURN TO PLANTAGENET KINGS

See LINCOLN CATHEDRAL

TOMBS OF THE PLANTAGENET KINGS

Tomb replicas photographed at V & A Museum 15 April 2005

KING HENRY II

King Henry II and Queen Eleanor were both entombed at Fontevrault Abbey. Plaster casts were taken in the mid-19th century, and replicas of the tombs are on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

KING JOHN

King John was entombed at Worcester Abbey, whilst Queen Isabel was entombed at Fontevrault Abbey. Plaster casts were taken in the mid-19th century, and replicas of the tombs are on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

ORIGINAL TOMB AT WORCESTER CATHEDRAL

Photographed 15 August 2008

King John's tomb is at Worcester. In 1529 the lid of the original c.1240 coffin `was placed on top of a new tomb which was more elaborate. His skeleton is still inside the modern tomb

KING HENRY III

King Henry III was entombed at Westminster Abbey. A plaster cast was taken in the mid-19th century, and a replica of the tomb is on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. According to Gough (1796), the inscription on the tomb reads:

ICI: GIST: HENRI. IADIS: REY: DE: ANGLETERRE: SEYGNVR: DE: HIRLAVNDE: E: DVC: DE: AQVITAYGNE: LE: FIZ: LI: REY: IOHTAN: IADIS: REY: DE: ANGLETERE: A: K: DEU: FACE: MERCI: AMEN

Queen Eleanor was buried at Amesbury Abbey, though her heart was buried in the Church of Friars Preachers, London.

KING EDWARD I

Queen Eleanor, who died first, was entombed at Westminster Abbey. A plaster cast was taken in the mid-19th century, and a replica of the tomb is on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. There is also a visceral tomb at Lincoln Cathedral, whilst her heart was placed in the Church of Friars Preachers, London.

King Edward I was entombed at Westminster Abbey. He was placed in a plain coffin of Purbeck "marble" (which is actually limestone), encased within a plain sarcophagus. On the side of sarcophagus was an inscription:

EDWARDUS PRIMUS SCOTORUM MALLEUS HIC EST PACTUM SERVA 1308

[Here is the Hammer of the Scots]

In 1774 the tomb of King Edward I was opened by a circle of antiquarians. It held a recumbent figure, measuring 6 ft. 2in. in length, clean-shaven and wearing a delicate crown. He was dressed in the purple cloth of a Roman emperor, a jewelled clasp at his right shoulder. Placed in his right hand was the sceptre, crowned with the crucifix; on his left was the rod of virtue, topped by a little dove.