Crypt Colours

Randolph Jones investigate the heraldic decoration of the crypt vaulting.

The quadrepartite vault scheme consists of twelve roundels and eight heraldic shields, although only half are now partially visible. Tristram recorded the heraldy although apparently did not identify their provenance.

Heraldry has a distinct set of rules and grammar for description. Here the appropriate specialist descriptions are provided with a description as-is:

Gules, a lion rampant argent, a bordure of the second charged with eight roses of the first (A silver standing lion on a red background surrounded by a silver border charged with eight red roses).

These are apparently the arms of Patrick Dunbar, earl of March (1242-1308) or those of his son and successor, also called Patrick (1285-1369). In 1291, the father was one of the competitors for the vacant Scottish throne on which Edward I was invited to adjudicate. In 1298 Patrick fought with the English against William Wallace at the battle of Falkirk. In 1314, his son also fought for the English at the battle of Bannockburn and gave refuge to the defeated Edward II immediately afterwards, but he later made his peace with Robert Bruce and fought for the Scots thereafter.

Or, and eagle displayed sable (A black eagle with wings outstretched on a gold background).

These are the arms of the Holy Roman Emperor, known as the king of Romans immediately after his election by the German princes until he could be crowned with the imperial diadem by the Pope. Edward I’s uncle, Richard, duke of Cornwall was elected King of the Romans in 1256 and crowned as such in Aachen in the following year. He held this title until his death in 1272. He was succeeded as the earl of Cornwall by his eldest son Edmund (d. 1300), but he wouldn’t have been entitled to bear the arms of his father as king of the Romans. These arms are therefore probably meant to represent Adolf, Count of Nassau, who was elected King of the Romans in 1292 and held that office until he was deposed in 1298. In 1294, Adolf made an alliance with Edward I, who went to war with France in the same year.

Quarterly, 1 and 4. Argent, a lion rampant que a la fourchee gules (a red standing fork-tailed lion on a silver background - Limburg); Sable, a lion rampant que a la fourchee argent (a silver standing fork-tailed lion on a black background - Brabant).

These appear to be the arms of the Duke of Brabant and Limburg, although the artist has transposed the quarters: the arms of Brabant should appear in first and fourth quarters, and those of Limburg in the second and third. Those of Brabant are also incorrectly rendered. They should be sable, a lion rampant or (a golden standing lion on a black background), although the gold paint may have faded over the years. These probably represent the arms of John II, Duke of Brabant (1275-1312), who married Margaret, another daughter of Edward I, in 1290.

Or, three chevrons, gules (Three red chevrons on a gold background)

These are probably the arms of Gilbert de Clare, 7th earl of Gloucester, who was also lord of Tonbridge (1243-1295). In 1290 he married Edward I’s daughter, Joan of Acre. Alternatively, they may be those of their son, Gilbert de Clare 8th earl of Gloucester, who was killed in 1314 at the battle of Bannockburn. Gilbert the younger was the last Clare earl of Gloucester, as he left only three daughters, so the date of his death gives us a terminal date for these ceiling paintings.

On balance the surviving heraldic evidence suggests that this ceiling was probably painted in the 1290s. It’s a pity no other shields have survived. At least one of them was possibly Edward I’s own coat of arms - Gules, three lions passant guardant or – which were probably placed immediately above the altar in the eastern end of the chapel, the place of the highest importance. It is perhaps noteworthy that Edward I’s first queen Eleanor of Castile, the mother of Gloucester and Brabant’s wives, died in November 1290. Was this chapel used as a chantry in her honour?

St John Hope (1898, ref) notes that a list of benefactors in Cotton MS. Vespasian A. 22 records a chapel to St Edmund in the crypt:

Galfridus de Hadenham emit plures terras aput Darente. fecit altare Sancti Edmundi in criptis et dedit redditum ad dictum altare provenientem de Darente quia idem G. habuit Darente sicut Hadenham. Et quia in dispersione fuerunt aput Westmonasterium Rogerus de Sanford et Willelmus de Cornubia propter devocionem erga sanctum Edwardum predictum altare decoraverunt ornamentis et ibidem ymaginem sancti Edwardi statuerunt. Hac de causa omnia ornamenta et luminaria dicti altaris inveniri debent a fratribus ibidem celebrantibus et michi a sacristis.

Translation:

Geoffrey of Haddenham purchased several lands at Darenth. He made the altar of Saint Edmund in the crypt and distributed the rent at that altar coming from the same Darenth because Geoffrey held Darenth just as Haddenham. And because they were scattered at Westminster, Roger of Sanford and William of Cornwall near that dedicated to the blessed Edward, the altar is adorned with ornaments and in that place the image of the blessed Edward was placed. Here is positioned all the ornaments and lights of the said altar the brethren ought to be found in that place celebrated and michi[?] from the sacrists.

Randolph Jones