Great Cloister: A Lost Canterbury Tale

A History of the Canterbury Cloister, Constructed 1408-14, with Some Account of the Donors and their Coats of Arms

By (author) Paul A. Fox Foreword by Edward Fitzalan-Howard

Book cover: Great Cloister: A Lost Canterbury Tale

Extent: 704 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Architecture, Medieval Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(January 2020)

ISBN: 9781789693317

8.07 x 11.42 inches

Price: $110.00

In stock

A new study of the heraldry, genealogy and history of the Canterbury Cathedral cloister, this book is the first comprehensive study of this monument ever undertaken. It provides a detailed chronology and details on the 856 heraldic shields, badges and devices, representing some 365 families, principalities, religious foundations and


Great Cloister: A Lost Canterbury Tale presents a new study of the heraldry, genealogy and history of the Canterbury Cathedral cloister. It is the first comprehensive and complete study of this monument ever undertaken, and it provides a detailed chronology as well as many new insights into the families who were donors. The monument is revealed to have been the personal project of Archbishop Thomas Arundel (d.1414), an individual closely connected with the overthrow of King Richard II. The work as a whole provides considerable insights into the revolution of 1399 and the troubled reign of Henry IV as seen through the lens of individual families. The cloister, as originally conceived, contained 856 heraldic shields, badges and devices of which 576 were unique. Some 365 families, principalities, religious foundations and other individuals both real and imagined were represented, some with more than one shield or device. More precisely, there were 252 families, 51 peerage families, 3 English royal families (Lancaster, York and Beaufort), 20 principalities, 12 religious foundations, 9 bishops, 7 saints, 3 heroes, 4 cities or towns, 2 priests, 1 monk and 1 for God himself (in the form of the Holy Trinity). The origins and evolution of each shield represented are considered in detail.

Foreword by His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal
Explanation of shield numbers
Introduction
History of the Cloister’s construction
Dating the cloister
Thomas Arundel as Archbishop of Canterbury
The Cloister as a roll of arms
The Bay of Reconciliation (Bay 30)
The Royal Bay (Bay 32)
The Arundel Family Bay (Bay 33)
Lollards in the cloister
The English Cardinals
Other bishops and monks
Religious foundations
The Archbishop’s friends
Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen
The last bay
The lost paper record of the Cloister Roll
Problems of the sources
Willement’s Three Sources
Incorrect repainting
Heraldry in the era of the Cloister
Heraldic authority
Ricardian innovations
Female arms
Cadency marks
King Henry IV
The lost shields
Bay 1
Bay 10
Bay 11
Bay 12
Bay 15
Bay 17
Bay 20
Bay 25
Bay 26
Bay 29
Bibliography
Alphabetical list of shields
Numerical list of shields
The shields
  • By (author) Paul A. Fox
  • Foreword by Edward Fitzalan-Howard

'... this is a splendid volume allowing the history and genealogy of the Canterbury cloister and its hundreds of associated individuals and families to stand in new and radiant light. It will remain as an indispensable vade mecum for long into the future.'
— David Wright

'Like the enterprises of the early antiquarians, this book will doubtless stand the test of time; it will be consulted by scholars for generations to come.'
— Michael Carter

'This book will prove a valuable reference for those interested in the Cloister.'
— Philip Allfrey

'...an indispensable source of reference, not just for those interested in the Great Cloister and its history, but for all seeking information on English heraldry and genealogy of the early 15th century. Fittingly, the volume well merits its gracious Foreword by the Duke of Norfolk, who, as Earl Marshal, has oversight of the College of Arms.'
— Dr. J.R. Alban