The Anne Boleyn Collection II: Anne Boleyn & the Boleyn Family (25 page)

The glass memorial is on the lawn marked (I) on the plan, but, as I said, it's not where Anne was executed. The real spot is marked (B) on the plan. However, the glass memorial is moving as it has a beautiful verse etched on it in memory of those who died. It reads:

"Gentle visitor pause a while,Where you stand death cut away the light of many days.Here, jewelled names were broken from the vivid thread of life.May they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage,Under these restless skies."
¹⁰

1. Figure 27
   - The Glass Memorial, Tower of London
   

A must-see is Anne's resting place in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula by Tower Green, marked "C" in Figure 31 on the plan. The Tower always seems to be changing the rules about entry to the Chapel and at the time of writing (summer 2013), you have to join a Yeoman Warder's tour to go in there, or to wait until after 4.30pm, when it's open to the public. Alternatively, you can worship at the chapel on Sunday mornings. Unfortunately, as I said before, the chancel area is roped off, so it's hard to see the memorial tiles. When I took a group there in 2010 the Chief Yeoman Warder actually took us past the rope and we were allowed to go and lay flowers on Anne's tile. It was a moving moment and one I will never forget. Sadly, they have never let us repeat that experience.

1. Figure 28
   - The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London
   

1. Figure 29
   - Probable positions of interments in St. Peter ad Vincula
   

1. Figure 30
   - Tiles in the chancel of St. Peter ad Vincula
   

1. Figure 31
   - A modern plan of the Tower of London
   

Tudor Graffiti

One of my favourite places to visit at the Tower of London is the Beauchamp Tower, which is situated near the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula and the glass memorial on Tower Green. What I love about it is its graffiti, or, to be more precise, its carvings. Its interior stone walls are covered with carvings made by prisoners; I am always overawed by just how detailed they are, as well as moved by their poignancy. Graffiti today is done with spray paint or permanent markers; this graffiti was carved into stone and is amazing. Well worth a visit.

Here are my favourite carvings:

Dudley Brothers 1553-4

The beautiful carving of the Dudley coat of arms (Figure 32) is thought to have been made by John Dudley, son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Dudley, his brothers and his father were imprisoned after the fall of Lady Jane Grey. The carving features the bear and ragged staff (the badge of the Earls of Warwick), the double-tailed lion rampant (the badge of the Dudley family), and a floral border with oak leaves and acorns for Robert Dudley (
quercus robur
is the Latin for English oak). It also features roses for Ambrose Dudley, honeysuckle for Henry Dudley (
lonicera henryi
) and Gilly Flower for Guildford Dudley.

The inscription reads:

"You that these beasts do wel behold and se, may deme with ease wherefore here made they be, with borders eke within [there may be found] 4 brothers names who list to search the ground."

It is a breathtakingly beautiful carving.

1. Figure 32
   - Carving attributed to John Dudley
   

Jane 1553-4

The simple carving shown in Figure 33 is of the word "Jane" or "IANE", as it is written, with a simple rectangular border. It is unlikely that it was carved by Jane, because she was imprisoned "in a small house next to the royal apartments".
¹¹
However, her husband, Guildford Dudley, and his brothers were imprisoned in the Beauchamp Tower, so it was probably carved by one of them. It is a very simple carving, but I find it very poignant.

1. Figure 33
   - Stone carving of "Jane" in the Beauchamp Tower
   

Thomas Abell ca.1533-40

The carving of a bell with an "A" on it (Figure 34) and the name "Thomas" above was the work of Thomas Abell, who was imprisoned in 1533 and executed in July 1540. Abell had been Catherine of Aragon's chaplain and was the author of the 1532 document
An answere, That by no manner of law, it may be lawfull for the most noble King of England, King Henry the eight to be divorced from the queens grace, his lawfull and very wife
. He was imprisoned in December 1533 for spreading the prophecies of Elizabeth Barton, the Maid of Kent, and for encouraging Catherine "obstinately to persist in her wilful opinion against the same divorce and separation".

1. Figure 34
   - Carving by Thomas Abell in the Beauchamp Tower
   

Anne Boleyn's Falcon Badge ca. 1536

This simple rendition of Anne Boleyn's falcon badge (Figure 35) is thought to have been carved by a Boleyn supporter at the fall of Anne and her brother in 1536. The falcon is missing its usual royal crown and sceptre, so the carving speaks clearly of the fall of Anne. It's not an easy carving to spot because it is not on the list of famous carvings, but it is below that of Thomas Miagh and to the left of No. 31 on the wall.