Kings College Cambridge, and London

Yesterday was Kings College Cambridge. Building was started well before Henry VIII but he certainly finished it.

It has many unique features and I could spend pages and pages describing the building,it is my favourite fo all Henry's buildings. It has the largest Fan vaulted roof anywhere in the world, Majestic stained glass windows that have a guidebook all to themselves. It has evidence of two wives here, Catherine Howard is here seen high up on two of the windows. She is seen in suplication to Henry who appears as the biblical David and her initials appear on the east window above the red dragon of Wales there is H and K.

Curiously Anne Boleyn's initials are to be found above the provost stall, now what are they still doing there? One other unique feature is on the west facade, there is a Tudor Rose with a carved figure on it, the only one I know of in all the buildings I have visited. The figure is of Elizabeth of York, Henry's mother, why is that?. Now to me the whole building is Henry VIII at his most majestic and magnificence and he shouts down the centuries " I am Henry Octavus rex Lord of this land and I will be remembered...and I love my mum!"

Today it was Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. It was raining and cold so just wandering was not really pleasant at all. Westminster Abbey is the site of many Royal weddings and we'll be seeing another one in just a couple of weeks. It also holds the tombs some of our Sovereigns including Henry V. Elizabeth and Mary, also Mary Queen of Scots. Tourists and visitors leave tokens on these Tombs, Mary had a penny and Mary Queen of Scots had a piece of Tartan left on their majestic tombs. Anne of Cleves is here, just a few words in gold leaf in the wall of the chancel marks her final resting place, but some kind person has remembered her and left little flower.

The Tower of London is of course a world heritage site and steeped in the nation's history for nearly a 1000 years. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were executed here and are buried beneath the alter of the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincular. This is where we have failed in our quest to see all the wives final resting places. The Chapel was closed for urgent works on the lighting. I desperately pleaded with the yeoman warder to be able to view the Chapel " there is an alternative sir" he said " are you looking to pray?" thinking this was a leading question and offering a glimmer of hope I replied "yes" " Then you could go up to the chapel of St John in the White Tower sir " blast! got me!

In the White Tower there is a fabulous new exhibition on the top floor. Its a huge dragon made up of helmets, armour, weapons, pistols, cannons, chainmail and lots of other things too. The artist who constructed this sculpture is a genius, it is truly superb. I went back to see it again a second time.