The Abbey is reputed to be haunted by slain warriors, along with monks dispossessed by Henry VIII. It is also the backdrop to the most savage battle of the War of the Roses, the battle of Tewkesbury 1471. Fleeing from an advancing Yorkist army but trapped by the rising waters of the Avon and Severn, Margaret of Anjou and the Lancastrian heir Prince Edward fought to the last man. Those Lancastrians who fled into the Abbey were hunted down and slaughtered, blood running thick down the aisles.
The ceiling dates from 1340, its grace a nice counterpoint to the heavy Norman columns. The architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner had his own take: ‘beautiful (but) producing a somewhat crushing effect.’
Above shows ‘The Sun in Splendour,’ the symbol of Yorkist kings added after the battle of Tewkesbury. Rubbing salt into the wound is the grave of the Lancastrian, seventeen year old Edward Prince of
Here lies Edward Prince of Wales, cruelly slain whilst but a youth Anno Domini 1471, May fourth. Alas the savagery of men. Thou art the soul light of thy Mother, and the last hope of thy race.
Other than Yorkist triumphalism and the tragedy of the slain prince, what truly knocked me out were the glorious stained glass windows, a happy marriage of the Medieval, Victorian, and the C21st in the form of Thomas Denny.
In the past, my photographs of stained glass have always proved unsatisfactory with washed out colours and poor definition. My new iPhone 15 pro max was a revelation, and I make no apology for posting so many, but if you zoom and slowly flit through them, the effect is hallucinatory. Some Gregorian chants and a good bottle of port will heighten the effect.
Close ups of altar windows
And because so much might otherwise be missed in Thomas Denny’s brilliant work, I’m including context and explanation below—for those who like to explore stained glass.
2 comments:
Thank you for posting the explanation for the stained glass. I've always been fascinated by stained glass, and these are breathtaking. I'm especially fond of the gold and blue panels at the end. The artist did a wonderful job incorporating them into such an ancient structure.
I’m glad you liked them, Maria. Sometimes/often, pictures are better than words😏
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