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Henry
was born at Winchester Castle on 1st October 1207, eldest son
of King John and Isabella. He succeeded his father in 1216.
His was one of the longest reigns in English history.
It is to Henry that we owe the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey
in the new Gothic style of architecture. In 1220 he had laid
the foundation stone of the old Lady Chapel (later replaced by
Henry VII's chapel) and he had a special devotion to St Edward
the Confessor. He wanted to emulate the great churches then
being built in France and to transfer Edward's body to a new
shrine near which he himself could be buried.
Demolition of Edward the Confessor's 11th century church began
in 1245 and the king was recklessly extravagant in the money
spent on the Abbey and its lavish decoration (the cost
including the new Shrine was £45,000, about 15 million in
today's money). The eastern section, including the intricate
Cosmati pavement, and transepts of the Church as far as one
bay of the nave west of the organ screen, dates from his
reign. The bones of St Edward were translated to the new
shrine in 1269 and the consecration of the Church took place
on 13th October 1269. But building ceased when Henry died and
it was completed at a much later date.
Marriage and children
Henry married Eleanor, daughter of Raymond Berenger V, Count
of Provence, in Canterbury cathedral on 4th January 1236 (she
became a nun and died at Amesbury in 1291). They had five sons
- Edward succeeded his father as Edward I, Edmund, Earl of
Lancaster is also buried in the Abbey, as are Richard, John,
and Henry who all died young. Their three daughters were
Margaret, who married Alexander III of Scotland, Beatrice, who
married Jean de Dreux Earl of Richmond, and Katherine who died
young in 1257 and who was buried in the Abbey.
Coronation
He was hastily crowned king at Gloucester Abbey on 28th
October 1216 due to the uncertain political situation at the
time and then again with full ceremonial in Westminster Abbey
on 17th May 1220. Eleanor was crowned on 20th January 1236.
Burial and tomb
Henry died at the Palace of Westminster on 16th November 1272.
He had a magnificent funeral and his body was temporarily
buried in the old grave of Edward the Confessor in the Abbey.
He was the first monarch to be buried in a coffin (rather than
the body being visible on a bier) with a wax effigy (this does
not survive) used in the procession.
Nineteen years later he was placed in the splendid tomb put up
by his son Edward I to the north of the Shrine of St Edward,
although his heart was delivered to the Abbey at Fontevrault
in France as Henry had wished. Henry's large tomb is of
Purbeck marble with slabs of purple and green antique porphyry
set in the sides and inlaid with gilded "Cosmati" mosaic and
coloured marble and glass. Much of this has been robbed but
decoration still remains on the north side. The arched
recesses on the chapel side may once have contained relics of
saints, as may the small cavity in the pillar near the head of
the effigy.
High on the tomb lies the superb gilt bronze effigy, cast in
one piece, made by London goldsmith William Torel. It is
hollowed out at the back to reduce the weight. The metal plate
on which the king lies, the pillows beneath his head and his
shoes are decorated with the lions of England. The gabled
canopy behind his head has gone as have the jewels from his
crown and robe and the sceptres he held in his hands. The two
lions at his feet have also disappeared.
When the effigy was removed from the plate it was seen that
this has been cut to the shape of the figure and on the bare
stone are etched figures of a queen and a nun praying before a
larger uncompleted figure. There are also other scratchings of
heads, a bird and a six pointed flower in a circle.
The wooden tester or canopy over the tomb is 15th century and
was once gilt and painted but the grille which protected the
tomb has gone. On the lower edge of the tomb chest is the
remains of a 16th century inscription in black letter, added
by Abbot Feckenham, which can be translated:
Henry the Third is the founder of this church 1273. War is
sweet to those who have not experienced it.
Tomb dimensions in metres: length 2.94. width 1.50. height
2.30. Length of effigy: 1.90 m.
The effigy was stored in the Chapter House crypt during the
Great War and was evacuated to a country house during the
1939-45 war.
An early stained glass shield with his arms (gules, three
lions passant guardant or) is now in St Edmund's chapel window
and a 13th century carved shield of arms remains in the choir
aisle, together with those of other benefactors to the
building work (including the coat of arms of Provence). The
Chapter House contains tiles depicting his Royal arms. It is
thought that one of the kings painted on the Sedilia, beside
the High Altar, represents him. He is also depicted in an
early 20th century stained glass window in the nave. A carved
corbel head of a queen in the Muniment Room may possibly
represent Eleanor of Provence.
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