THE
P RTAL
February 2019
Page 13
valuable to throw away. The artefacts
found here are truly remarkable. It
beggars belief that they have just lain
here for so long, in some cases nigh
on one thousand years!
This area had been unused for
centuries. It has been transformed
into a wonderful exhibition of
treasures.
A new tower has been built to
transport visitors to the Gallery.
There are steps, but we took the lift!
During the construction of the new
tower 30,000 pieces of glass dating
from between 1250 and 1500 were
found. Many of them have been re-
used in windows that glaze the bridge
between the lift and the Gallery.
The Very Revd Dr John Hall
said, “The views are breath-
taking; the space astonishing;
the displays fascinating. The
visitor will gain far greater
insight into the life and history
of the Abbey than ever before.
The fulfilment of this vision is
a shared achievement with so
many people involved. We are
profoundly grateful.”
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at
Westminster Abbey
Photographs: Alan Williams, image
courtesy of Westminster Abbey
The Galley has four themed
areas: Building Westminster
Abbey; Worship and Daily Life;
Westminster Abbey and the
Monarchy; and The Abbey and
National Memory.
As to the exhibits, they are
amazing. There is a column
capital from the cloister of St
Edward’s Church (1100), and
a scale model of the Abbey (1714-16) commissioned
by Sir Christopher Wren when supervising repairs
to the Abbey. It has a massive central spire that was
never built.
Coming to the Monarchy, the
exhibition looks at the special
relationship the Abbey has with
the crown. Remember, every
monarch since 1066 has been
crowned here. There is Mary
II’s Coronation Chair from
1689. It was created for the joint
coronation of William III and
Mary, the only joint coronation
in English history. Also on
display is the marriage licence
of the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge from 2011.
National memory reminds us
of so many notable Britons who
are buried or commemorated
here. They include Geoffrey
Chaucer and Sir Isaac Newton.
As we wondered round
the Gallery we saw The Liber
Regalis. This is a 14 th century illuminated manuscript
setting out the order of service for Coronations. There
are many royal funeral effigies, including the head
of King Henry V. We were amused by a 13 th century
monk’s shoe – a rare survival of monk’s clothing from
Regarding worship and daily life, visitors can see before the Reformation and the Dissolution of the
the Westminster Retable [a painting or other image Monasteries. We were stunned by the 15 th century
above and behind an altar] (1259-69). It is the oldest wood altarpiece by Florentine artist Bicci di Lorenzo.
surviving altarpiece in England from Henry II’s
Abbey. Also on display is the Litlyngton Missal. This is
Do visit the Abbey, and make sure you go to the
an illuminated 14 th century service book made for the Queen’s Gallery. Prices and opening times on the
Abbey’s high altar.
Abbey web site at www.westminster-abbey.org.