Shrines of Saint Paulinus and Ithamar, 14th century

Fragments from an exceptional monument discovered in the ruins of ‘Gundulf Tower’ in 1922 possibly formed part of shrines of St Paulinus and Ithamar reconstruced by Bishop Hamo de Hythe in the fourteenth century.

The 1922 restoration of the thirteenth-century camponile colloqually known as Gundulf Tower revealed numerous Purbeck marble fragments from a grand monument or shrine. These were for a long time stored with other fragments in the crypt before becoming part of the Lapidarium collection established in 1992.

The three largest fragments appear to comprise an almost complete panel in high relief featuring an arch large enough to at least provide kneeling access. Three smaller fragments originate in one or more standing support columns decorated with chamfered edges and small recessed shafts.

Further fragments 5 and 7 are also apparently from this monument, although from an unrelated portion.

Although we appear to only retain one side of the monument, if the surviving side comprises the width then a reconstruction based on similiar shrines from the period suggests a standing architectural canopy large enough to cover a full-sized effigy and with a sturdy horizontal ‘roof’ or canopy enough to support a full-sized stone coffin. This is not a typical style for a tomb at Rochester in the fourteenth century.

Amongst many other alterations to the Cathedral in the mid-fourteenth century, such as the exceptional Chapter Doorway, Bishop Hamo is recorded as having spent 200 marks rebuilding the shrines of Paulinus and Ithamar in ‘marble and alabaster’. This followed similiar rebuildings of shrines at St Albans and Old Saint Pauls earlier in the century (Paul Crook 2006).

The tomb typically ascribed to Bishop Hamo comprises a chest with an architectural canopy set within a niche. The other medieval tombs at Rochester Cathedral are typically tomb chests set within niches, with or without canopies.

Bishop Hamo’s tomb is located within the North Quire Aisle that was purportedly finished during his tenure. This aisle, also known as the Pilgrim’s Passage, led to the shrine of St William of Perth in the North Quire Transept and the to the shrines of Paulinus and Ithamar in the Presbytery beyond.

Though Purbeck marble is not a true metamorphic marble, it is possible to form fine high-relief work and it takes a polish - we maintain this confusion in its name today. The dark brown shafts around the Presbytery are also Purbeck, as are many of the casements for brasses now gathered in the North Quire Aisle. As the dark grey Purbeck of the canopy does not appear to leave space for elements in white alabaster, perhaps the effigy over which the canopy resided was of alabaster - a true marble with which it is possible to form fine statues, unlike Purbeck which includes many inclusions.

Paul Crook provides an overview of contemporary evidence relating to the location and basic form of the shrines of the Cathedral (2006). Sir Gilbert Scott’s renovations to the Presbytery in the 1870s revealed a platform in the centre of the space that was the likely space of both the medieval High Altar and the shrines of Paulinus and Ithamar.

Reconstruction of the shrines of Saint Paulinus and Ithamar based on the Purbeck Marble shrine fragments and the altar platform at the centre of the presybtery discovered in the 1870s.

Although we only know the form of one portion of one of these monuments, it is possible both shrines were designed along similiar lines. Hamo may have had a vested interest in promoting Ithamar, the first native English Bishop, similarly as the Roman Paulinus, at a time when English nationalism was on the rise within the context of the Hundred Years War. Hamo may also have been behind the restructuring of the folios in Textus Roffensis at this time (read more).

Jacob Scott
Heritage Officer

The prescence of the shrines of Saint Paulinus and Ithamar was advertised by two figures in high relief, one of which survives in the Lapidarium today (see Relief of Saint Paulinus).

Bibliography

Paul Crook. 2006. The shrines of Saint Paulinus and Ithamar in Medieval Art, Architecture and Archaeology at Rochester. British Council of Archaeology.