Royal Arms of Henry VII plaque in the cloisters

In the south alley of the cloisters of Chichester Cathedral above the door to the former Royal Chantry is this carved stone plaque. The upper panel represents the Royal Arms of Henry VII - this can be told by the supporters (the animals holding the shield) which are a dragon and greyhound which were only used in the early part of Henry VII reign, so the plaque must date from the end of the C15th (Henry VII reigned from 1485 to 1509). Precisely what is going on in the lower half I am not certain, but it looks as though two people (priests perhaps) are praying to or venerating the central standing figure, who may be the Virgin Mary. There are various heraldic emblems around the outside: According to an account by R.H.Codrington these are as follows: "The moulding of the panel is ornamented with two sets of badges; on the dexter side, four times repeated, those which are seen on the tomb of Henry V., at Westminster, viz.: The Swan and Antelope of the Bohuns chained together, and the Beacon of Henry V. On the other side, three times repeated, are the Beaufort Portcullis, the Rose, and the Fleur-de-lys"

  © Copyright Rob Farrow and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence .

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• chichester
• cloisters
• geograph
• royal coat of arms
• historic sites and artefacts
• cathedral
• chantry
• henry vii