21st Century

Former Franciscan Priory (Spinoy Cultural Centre), Mechelen, Belgium, 2000

This bronze and enamelled plaque reproduces the lost tomb inscription of Margaret of York, which was originally set up inside this priory church to mark Margaret’s burial there. The design, by Geoffrey Wheeler, showing Margaret of York’s arms, borne by an angel, is derived from descriptions of the original tomb inscription. The plaque was jointly unveiled on Saturday 21 October 2000, by a representative of Mechelen town council and by Isolde Wigram, vice-president of the Society.

Clare Priory, 2002

The plaque commemorates Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I, her son Lord Monthermer, Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, Elizabeth de Burgh, Duchess of Clarence, Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, and Lady Margaret Neville, all of whom are ancestors or relatives of Richard III and Queen Anne Neville, and all of whom are buried at Clare Priory. The plaque, sponsored by the Norfolk, Mid Anglia and South Essex Groups, and designed by John Ashdown-Hill, was unveiled by the Society Chairman, Dr Phil Stone on Saturday 3 August 2002, in the presence of the Prior of Clare, Fr David Middleton, OSA.

Photo courtesy John Ashdown-Hill

Town Hall, Waltham Abbey, 2003

This plaque commemorates the alternative tradition that Margaret of York was born at Waltham Abbey. The plaque, sponsored by the Mid Anglia and South Essex Groups, was erected in the quincentenary year of Margaret’s death, and was unveiled by the deputy mayor of Waltham Abbey, Cllr Antony Watts, on 18 October 2003. The plaque was designed by Geoffrey Wheeler and John Ashdown-Hill.

Fotheringhay, 2003

This plaque commemorates the tradition that Margaret of York was born at Fotheringhay (one of two places named as her birthplace by fifteenth century sources). It also commemorates the births at Fotheringhay of Richard III, Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter, and William of York. Designed by Geoffrey Wheeler and John Ashdown-Hill, it was unveiled by Juliet Wilson on Sunday 14 December 2004, as a prelude to that year’s Fotheringhay Carol Service.

Blackfriars, Norwich, 2004

The plaque commemorates the visits to Norwich of Edward IV, Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Elizabeth Woodville in the summer of 1469. It was erected at the Blackfriars because Elizabeth Woodville was entertained there with pageants upon her arrival in Norwich. The plaque was unveiled by Dr Joanna Laynesmith (who first revealed the Blackfriars’ connection) on Saturday 31 July 2004, as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Norfolk Branch.

Richard III Road, Leicester, 2005

This plaque attempts to correct the misleading inscription on the neighbouring Victorian plaque erected by Benjamin Broadbent in 1859 (which suggests that Richard III’s body had been thrown into the nearby river). The new plaque was unveiled by Benjamin’s descendant, Mr. Christopher Broadbent, on Saturday 20 August 2005 as part of the Society’s 2005 Bosworth Commemoration.

Photography courtesy of Sally Henshaw