Fit for a King’s… Knight?

Let's sample some of the delights of the Beauchamp Chapel...

One can be forgiven for overlooking the magnificent jewel that is the Collegiate Church of St Mary when strolling through Warwick; after all, this is the heart of Shakespeare country. But just a few moments inside this treasure trove of eclecticism will reveal why it holds a reputation as one of England’s greatest architectural achievements and a symbol of medieval authority. Step into the world of the nation’s most powerful magnates.

The Beauchamp Chapel is a former chantry chapel situated at the south-east of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, established as a mausoleum for the Beauchamp family. The chapel is remarkable for many reasons. First, the surviving contracts for the artistic and architectural work are extensive, providing details of cost, materials, design and names of craftsmen. Second, the glazing programme is the most expensive known to have been carried out in England in the fifteenth century; a result of lavish coloured glass and technical virtuosity deployed on an unprecedented scale.