Westminster Abbey

Once again planned a resting day and failed. After a registration appointment with the RCVS I visited Westminster Abbey - the coronation site of nearly every monarch of England since 1066 with William the Conqueror.

Again no photography is permitted within the Abbey, so I can't show the multitudinous beautiful memorial sculptures and effigies which fill the septs and walls of this monument. If you come here take note of the symbolic animals at the feet of the effigies - many are lions, but other creatures can be found including dragons and what appeared to be a dachshund (?). Apparently these are either symbols of bravery, or heraldic devices.

There is a staggering number of people interred or memorialized here - from Edward the Confessor and other monarchs, including the combined tomb of Mary and Elizabeth I, down to Darwin, Handel, and Keats.

Carvings on North wall

 The Chapter House was separate from the Church and maintains some of it's oldest architecture and art. The paintings depicted many biblical scenes and along the base had animals - which from what I could tell seemed to be depicted in contrasting wild and domestic states. Reynder (reindeer?) and Ro, Wild Asse and Tame Asse, Dromedary and Kamyl

"Jesus in Majesty" flanked by much older carvings of Gabriel and Mary - in the Chapter House

"Reynder" and "Ro" added later below the 600 year old paintings of the life of St John

I look forward to returning to Westminster Abbey for an evensong service, perhaps next week.