Visiting Royalty

 That's me visiting them, not them visiting me. King John of Magna Carta fame  to be precise - and Henry VIII's older brother, Prince Arthur. 

Those in the know will have deduced that I spent a day last week in Worcester. My first time in the city. As well a coffee, lunch and lots of gossip with long standing friend Mary, I visited Worcester Cathedral - last resting place of John and Arthur - or bits of them, as there was a habit of burying body parts, usually the heart, in different places. King John's reign was not one I have ever studied - most of my knowledge of him comes from Shakespeare - and Arthur was overshadowed by the exploits of his little brother, who married his widow, Katherine of Aragon. And we all know how that ended,

I was very impressed with the cathedral, even without its royal inhabitants. It was a magnificent building, with an amazing ceiling, lots of lovely stained glass, including a window memorializing Sir Edward Elgar, who was local to the area,  and a number of other memorials and painted tombs. I was particularly drawn to an intriguing one where the lady of the partnership was resting her head on a black swan. Apparently she is thought to be Joan Beauchamp, buried next to Sir John, her husband, although this is not 100% certain.  Her tomb was certainly interesting enough to attract my attention. The ashes of former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, along with those of his wife, are also interred in the cathedral but in a part that was roped off - so I did not get close enough to inspect the plaque. 

I was so fascinated by wandering and reading that I did not remember to take any pictures, which is very remiss of me. There were cloisters, a cafe, which we did not patronize, although I have to say the smell of what they were serving for lunch was very enticing. The visit was completed by a mooch in a small but very well stocked gift shop, and I started my festive preparations by buying Xmas cards! 

I don't think any of the people or things I saw will be making it into a book any time soon, but it was a lovely day out, and I recommend the cathedral as a fascinating site for a lengthy prowl. If you like history, it is one for you.