Medieval tombs
/Rochester Cathedral features twelve intact medieval coffin-tombs spaced around the east end of the building in proximity to the high altar. They were the final resting place of bishops of priors.
Keyplan of tombs. Touch to open PDF
Bishop Gilbert de Glanville (d.1214), Presbytery north wall third-east bay
Gabled tomb-chest, with an arcaded front with foliage and a Purbeck marble sloped top, at the east end of which are the remains of two Quatrefoils with figures.
Bishop Thomas de Ingoldsthorpe (d.1291), Presbytery north wall second-east bay
Plinth on which is a decayed Purbeck marble recumbent effigy of a bishop, beneath a gabled canopy.
Unknown person C13th, Presbytery south wall furthest-east bay
Plain plinth of a tomb-chest in the easternmost south bay of the Presbytery of Rochester Cathedral. Sometimes said to be of Bishop Gundulf, but evidence of this is lacking.
Unknown c13th tomb, north quire transept north wall east bay
Purbeck marble tomb-chest beneath a roll-moulded arch, in the north wall of the North Quire Transept of Rochester Cathedral. The interment is unidentified, although may have been a prior. The chest features quatrefoil and foliage decoration dating stylistically to the C13th, on the top is a foliated cross. The arch behind is painted with foliage and popinjays, conserved by the Courtauld Institute in 1987 (Rickerby 1988).
Tomb of Bishop Walter de Merton (d.1277), north quire transept north wall
Bishop Walter was the founder of Merton College, Oxford. Stone and alabaster standing monument, consisting of a vaulted two bay canopy on clustered shafts. Restored in 1849, with a recumbent alabaster effigy, the third (1852, designed by R.C. Hussey, sculptor unknown). Enclosed by a C19th iron railing. Behind are two small stained glass windows by Sir Ninian Comper. In adjoining bay is the slab from the earlier monument. Brass plate on east wall refers to the 1849 restoration. Inscription on black marble tablet in slype refers to restoration of the tomb in 1662.
Unknown person C13th, south quire transept south wall centre bay
Purbeck marble coffin lid located in the south wall of the South Quire Transept of Rochester Cathedral. Relief decoration dating stylistically to the C13th.
Bishop John de Bradfield (d.1283), south quire aisle north wall
Headless and broken Purbeck marble recumbent effigy of a bishop upon a plain tomb-chest. Set within a niche, under a later cusped canopy, beneath a gable which contains tracery cusping and a large trefoil. The effigy has been dated stylistically to the first half of the twelfth century, although the canopy seems contemporary with the death of the bishop (Metcalf Pevsner 1985, 244).
Bishop Hamo de Hythe (d.1352), north quire aisle south wall
Stone tomb-chest set into an arched and canopied niche. The front of the chest is panelled with an eleven-trefoiled arcade and either side are square battlemented buttresses. The canopy is cusped with decoration of sculpted foliage and Green Men beneath a slightly concave-sided crocketted gable, which contains cusping and a large quatrefoil within a circle. Within the recess, and above the tomb-chest, is a demi-figure of a (now) headless angel.
Bishop John de Sheppey (d.1360), north quire transept eastern aisle
Inscription in capitals on south side ‘Hic Iacet Dns Iohans De Schepeie Epus Huius Ecclie’, on north side - same inscription with ‘Istius’ substituted for ‘Huius’. Large standing monument beneath a mid 19thc copy of the cusped canopy, ogee gable with, at the top, a series of open quatrefoils, all between battlemented topped buttresses. The painted stone effigy in vestments lies on a chest, panelled with a trefoiled arcade. The maniple has rare diamond shaped decorative motifs with inset glass (now shattered). The floor on the North side has been built up. The effigy was apparently hidden behind walling, against the north side of which was later erected the monument to Lee Warner until 1824 when it was revealed by the architect, L. N. Cottingham, although it is not thought to belong to this canopy.
Bishop John Lowe (d.1467), north quire transept east aisle
Tomb-chest with shield and quatrefoil decoration inscribed round the edge of the slab ‘Miserere dues anime ft Iohannis Lowe Episcopi/Credo videre bona domini in terra viventium/Sancti Andrea et Augustine Orate pro nobis’. Originally on the north side of the quire crossing. Moved by Sir Gilbert Scott c.1850.
