The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 4

Allen, Thomas

1827

Chantry and Monument of Henry the Fifth.

 

The screen, which is particularly elegant, is ornamented with deer, and swans chained to a beacon, a female figure with an animal on her knees, and pointed shields of arms; but they are much damaged. Several iron hooks are left, from which, it is probable, lamps were formerly suspended. From this part buttresses ascend; between them canopies ( of which are destroyed) of exceeding richness. are for figures as large as life. The middle statue is removed; the others consist of a man kneeling at his devotions, a king erect, praying; St. George in armour, piercing the dragon's throat, a female seated, with her hands crossed, another man, and St. Dionysius, who carried his head after decapitation.

Directly over the tomb of Henry the is the Chantry which had an altar-piece of fine carvings. steps are still in being, and the marks of its back against the wall, with a square niche on each side. other recesses remain on the north and south walls o the chantry which have had shutters that have been wrested from their hinges, now broken in the wall. On the cornice over the altar, are statues in ranges; they are greatly broken and decayed.

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In this oratory are preserved several relics of this justly renowned monarch, which consist of his helmet, saddle, and shield. The is of iron, and is fixed on a bar extending across the front of the chapel. The wood work of the saddle alone remains; it was formerly covered with blue velvet, powdered with fleurs-de-lis, , and is inches long, inches high before, and behind. The shield is lined with sage green damask semee of fleurs-de-lis across the middle, worked on rich crimson velvet an escarbuncle or on a field , referring to the king's mother Joan of Navarre.

The present coffin of Edward the confessor may be seen from the parapet of Henry the 's chapel; it is deposited within the ancient stone work, about the height of the architrave. It was made by order of James the , (who commanded the old coffin to be enclosed within it) of strong planks inches thick, cramped, or banded with iron.

In the chantrey are several curious and interesting models of churches, now closed from the inspection of the public. The best is sir C. Wren's design for erecting a tower and spire to the abbey; this design was never executed, owing to the great columns having given way in their shafts. The other models, in number, are very fine; of them represent , and St. Mary le Strand.

Underneath the chantry, is the

 
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 Title Page
 Dedication
CHAPTER I: Site, local divisions, and government of the City of Westminster; history of the Abbey; Coronation Ceremonies; and lists of the Abbots and Deans
CHAPTER II: Westminster Abbey, and Description of the Tombs and Monuments
CHAPTER III: History and Topography of St. Margaret's Parish
CHAPTER IV: History and Topography of St. John's Parish, Westminster
CHAPTER V: History and Topography of the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, Westminster
CHAPTER VI: History and Topogrpahy of the parish of St. James, Westminster
CHAPTER VII: History and Topography of the Parish of St. Anne, Westminster
CHAPTER VIII: History and Topography of the parish of St. Paul, Covent Garden
CHAPTER IX: History and Topography of the Parish of St. Mary-le-strand
CHAPTER X: History and Topogrpahy of the parish of St. Clement Danes
CHAPTER XI: History and Topography of the parish of st. George, Hanover Square
CHAPTER XII: History and Topography of the Precinct of the Savoy
CHAPTER XIII: History and Topography of the Inns of Court
CHAPTER XIV: History and Topography of the Precincts of the Charter-house and Ely Place, and the Liberty of the Rolls
 CHAPTER XV: Historical Notices of the Borough of Southwark
CHAPTER XVI: History and Topography of the Parish of St. Olave, Southwark
CHAPTER XVII: History and Topography of the parish of St. John, Southwark
CHAPTER XVIII: History and Topography of the parish of St. Thomas, Southwark
CHAPTER XIX: History and Topogrpahy of the parish of St. George's, Southwark
CHAPTER XX: History and Topography of St. Saviour's Parish
CHAPTER XXI: History and Topography of the parist of Christ-church in the County of Surrey
 CHAPTER XXII: A List of the Principal Books, &c that have been published in Illustration of the Antiquities, History, Topography, and other subjects treated of in this Work
 Addenda et Corrigienda
 Postscript