Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
The chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula
October 3, 2012
4:44 pm
Avatar
Claire-Louise
UK
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 256
Member Since:
March 26, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

When I visited the Tower of London the Chapel was chained off and there was no way for visitors to access. Are only private tours permitted in the chapel? Or is it open only on certain days.

October 3, 2012
5:32 pm
Avatar
Sharon
Binghamton, NY
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 2114
Member Since:
February 24, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Claire-Louise, I don’t know the answer, but that would really tick me off if I were to finally get there and not be allowed entry.

October 3, 2012
5:38 pm
Avatar
Neil Kemp
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 447
Member Since:
April 11, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Claire-Louise said

When I visited the Tower of London the Chapel was chained off and there was no way for visitors to access. Are only private tours permitted in the chapel? Or is it open only on certain days.

Claire-Louise, unless there’s something going on there at the moment a little out of the ordinary, then the Chapel should be open to visitors as usual. Yeoman Warder Tours take place throughout the day when parties are escorted by said Yeoman Warder, but the Chapel is also open to all visitors not on a Yeoman Warder Tour during the last hour of normal opening hours. Perhaps your visit was just a case of bad timing, Claire.Frown Better luck next time.

October 3, 2012
8:35 pm
Avatar
Claire
Admin
Forum Posts: 958
Member Since:
February 16, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

It is closed if there’s some kind of special service but otherwise you can see it if you join one of the Yeoman Warders tours or if you wait until after 4.30pm when it is open to everyone. Hope you get to see it!

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 3, 2012
9:30 pm
Avatar
DuchessofBrittany
Canada
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 846
Member Since:
June 7, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I know the feeling, Claire-Louise. On one visit to the Tower, the chapel was closed to visitors. I was saddened, since I was desperate to see Anne’s resting place. But, the the following year I was in London again, I joined a Yeoman Warder’s tour, and we visited the chapel. It was an emotional experience to pause and pay Anne homage. It seemed some people did not understand the significane of the chapel, and spent little time there. I was in awe. I hope you have better luck the next time you visit. It is worth it!

"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn

October 3, 2012
9:37 pm
Avatar
Boleyn
Kent.
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 2285
Member Since:
January 3, 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Claire Louise I hope you can get to see the inside of St Peter Ad Vincula although you must remember your Camera too as I would love to see the pictures.. Don’t know why but the pictures of Anne and K.H’s resting places are pretty naff. It would also (this will sound strange) be good to share the feelings you have had by your visit. I hope you know what I’m trying to say. But to have someone who is a good freind to have actually seen the inside of the chapel will somehow make Anne and K.H feel much closer. For the most part I can say I live in the very places where Anne, Henry and the rest of the motterly crew of Tudors would have hunted and stayed when they came down to Kent for their summers or on progress, and I like that feeling.

Semper Fidelis, quod sum quod

October 4, 2012
7:43 am
Avatar
Claire
Admin
Forum Posts: 958
Member Since:
February 16, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

You’re not allowed to take photos in the chapel, unfortunately, although people often can manage one or two with their phone!

I found it very moving to visit the chapel, it really is a beautiful, peaceful place.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 7, 2012
12:30 pm
Avatar
ipaud
Ireland
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 212
Member Since:
June 19, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

As Neil has commented, the last hour is free to visit but as the Chapel is the Towers place of worship, there needs to be some regulation of the million plus visitors to the tower each year. During the day, the only way is to be part of a tour group,that is just a matter of tagging along with one of the Beefeaters who give tours from the steps near the white tower.
I have lots of pictures from inside St. Peter Ad Vincula, if anyone is interested, PM me or look for me on FB, I am a friend of our host, Claire.

If it was not this, then it would be something else?

October 7, 2012
5:41 pm
Avatar
Claire-Louise
UK
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 256
Member Since:
March 26, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks for the info everyone :smile

I’m going in December so I will join one of the tours if they are up and running in that season and hopefully get to see the inside of the chapel. I really hope I do

October 9, 2012
12:13 pm
Avatar
Bill1978
Australia
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 476
Member Since:
April 9, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Dumb question, where abouts is George Boleyn buried? Is he in the chapel as well. Is that where all people beheaded on Tower Hill ended up?

October 9, 2012
2:03 pm
Avatar
Louise
Hampshire, England
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 611
Member Since:
December 5, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Bill, as you look at the altar, George is on the left. Anne is to the right of him. Most people executed on Tower Hill are in the chapel, with the higher ranking people under the altar.

October 9, 2012
6:14 pm
Avatar
Claire
Admin
Forum Posts: 958
Member Since:
February 16, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

If you were important you got buried in the chapel and if you weren’t so important, like Norris, Smeaton, Brereton and Weston, you got buried in the Chapel graveyard. I think that they moved various remains into the crypt when they built the Waterlook Barracks though.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 9, 2012
9:06 pm
Avatar
Bill1978
Australia
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 476
Member Since:
April 9, 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thank you Lousie and Clare. And he has a memorial plaque to assist me in locating him? Sorry for the dummb question, but one day I hope to make it to England and would love to pay my respect to a number of people who lived during the tudor periods. With most of them being located in the St Peter’s Chapel it seemss.

October 10, 2012
5:51 pm
Avatar
Sharon
Binghamton, NY
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 2114
Member Since:
February 24, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Bill,
I’m not sure if the plaques have the names of the people on them or not. At the end of this article, there is a map of where they are buried.

http://www.theanneboleynfiles……ne-boleyn/

October 11, 2012
10:01 am
Avatar
Claire
Admin
Forum Posts: 958
Member Since:
February 16, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi Bill,
The plan Sharon mentions above is from Doyne C Bell’s 1877 book and he was on the committee in charge of the restoration work and the exhumations and re-burials, so it’s accurate. The chancel is roped off so you can only see the front tiles really well. Anne’s is quite far back and Catherine Howard’s, Lady Rochford’s and Margaret Pole’s are hidden under the altar table. On one occasion, the chief yeoman warder let our group past the rope and we were able to lift the altar table cloth and look under. I was also able to lay flowers on Anne’s tile and it was very moving.

There is a plaque on the wall near where you come into the chapel which names those buried in the chapel.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 11, 2012
10:48 am
Avatar
Louise
Hampshire, England
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 611
Member Since:
December 5, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I find it incredible that there is a tile and a memorial for Lady Rochford, yet the men who died on Tower Hill as Anne’s alleged lovers have nothing on the site of the scaffold to commemorate them. There are plagues on Tower Hill for Cromwell, Edward Seymour, Thomas More etc, but nothing for George Boleyn and the other men. It makes you wonder why you bother.

October 12, 2012
8:41 am
Avatar
Claire
Admin
Forum Posts: 958
Member Since:
February 16, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I’m not quite sure how they chose the names for the Tower Hill scaffold memorial, it does seem rather hit and miss. There were so many people executed there and so few names.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

Forum Timezone: Europe/London
Most Users Ever Online: 214
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 1
Top Posters:
Anyanka: 2333
Boleyn: 2285
Sharon: 2114
Bella44: 933
DuchessofBrittany: 846
Mya Elise: 781
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1
Members: 425962
Moderators: 0
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 13
Topics: 1679
Posts: 22775
Newest Members:
selenasw60, amaliaqy60, RobertRam, FredTip, judithqp18, Brandontouts
Administrators: Claire: 958