- Westminster Abbey Museum
The Westminster Abbey Museum is located in the magnificent 11th century vaulted undercroft of
St Peter beneath the former monks' dormitory inWestminster Abbey ,London ,England . This is one of the oldest areas of the Abbey, dating back almost to the foundation of the Norman church by KingEdward the Confessor in 1065.Exhibits
The exhibits include a unique collection of royal and other funeral effigies (funeral saddle, helm and shield of Henry V), together with other treasures, including some panels of medieval glass, 12th century sculpture fragments, Mary II's coronation chair and replicas of the Coronation regalia, effigies of Edward III, Henry VII and his queen, Elizabeth I, Charles II, William III, Mary II and Queen Anne.
Later wax effigies include a striking likeness of Horatio, Viscount Nelson wearing some of his own clothes and another of the famous Prime Minister William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, modelled by an American lady called Patience Wright. During recent conservation of Elizabeth I's effigy a unique corset dating from 1603 was found on the figure and is now displayed separately.
A recent addition to the display is the late 13th century Westminster Retable, England's oldest
altarpiece . It was most probably designed for theHigh Altar of the Abbey, although it has been damaged in past centuries. The panel has been expertly cleaned and conserved. One section shows the figure of St Peter, the patron saint of the Abbey.External links
* [http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visitor/museum Westminster Abbey Museum]
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