Medieval tomb chest for John Woodville in St. Mary the Virgin church in Grafton Regis. John Woodville was the great-grandfather of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England during the 15th century.
Alabaster grave engraving for tomb of John Woodville
The Woodville tombs are medieval tomb chests. The tomb with the inscription to John Woodville, portraying him in full armour on the alabaster slab, is the tomb of the great-grandfather of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England. The chest tomb has seven ogee-headed arched panels, shields to panels either end and the incised slab is inscribed to Sir John Wydevyl and dates to around 1415.
This is the only known tomb in Northamptonshire and the UK identified as being that of a direct ancestor of Elizabeth Woodville, who was born at Grafton Regis.
The Woodville tiles, exhibited at the A History of NOrthamptonshire in 100 Objects exhibition showingshowing the Woodville coat of arms and the York rose, are part of the floor of the lost Hermitage Church rediscovered in 1964. This tiled floor was made for the marriage of Elizabeth Woodville to Edward IV on May Day 1464 at Grafton Regis.
Carved with typically Anglo-Scandinavian interlace, this stone was found reused in the Norman church of St Peters and may indicate an earlier 10th century church.
Chichele College in Higham Ferrers built by Henry Chichele, largely demolished by Henry VIII. The College was founded by Henry Chichele in 1422 was for 8 chaplains, one of whom was to be the Master or Warden, 4 Clerks and 6 choristers. One of the Chaplains or Clerks was to be assigned to teach grammar and another singing instruction.
© Grafton Regis Historians
© Grafton Regis Historians
©
NMAG
©
English Heritage
©
NMAG
©
NMAG