History

Gabriel Goodman

Goodman, who died in 1601, came from Ruthin in north Wales, where he founded the Grammar School. He was Dean of Westminster from 1561 to his death and his monument, showing him kneeling in prayer, can be seen in St Benedict’s chapel, where he is buried.

Piers Griffith

Piers or Pierce Griffith was a pirate, son of Sir Rees Griffith of Penrhyn in north Wales. He married Margaret Mostyn and died in 1628. The Dean of Westminster, John Williams, was a cousin of the Mostyns which may explain why Piers was given burial in the Abbey. His grave in the nave is no longer marked.

Henry V

King of England. Henry was the son of Henry IV and Mary de Bohun and was born at Monmouth. His conquests in France included the victory at Agincourt in 1415. He died in France in 1422 and his body was returned to the Abbey for burial and a chantry chapel was erected over his tomb. His funeral armour, consisting of a saddle, shield and helm are now preserved in the Abbey Museum. The silver head and hands on his tomb effigy were stolen in 1546. A new head and new hands were added in 1971 (made of polyester resin). His widow, Catherine de Valois (who is buried in Henry’s chantry chapel), married Welsh squire Owen Tudor and her son Edmund was father of Henry VII.

Henry VII

King of England. He was the son of Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond and Margaret Beaufort and was founder of the Tudor dynasty. He was born at Pembroke Castle in 1457 and was crowned in the Abbey in 1485. Henry erected the magnificent Lady Chapel which bears his name at the east end of the Abbey and his tomb, on which lie gilt bronze effigies of the king and his queen Elizabeth of York, is situated behind the altar. He died in 1509. The effigies of Henry and Elizabeth which were carried at their funerals are displayed in the Abbey Museum, that of Henry being based on a death mask. His mother Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby has a fine tomb in the south aisle of Henry VII’s chapel and his infant daughter Princess Elizabeth has a small tomb in Edward the Confessor’s chapel.

Edward Herbert

Edward Herbert died in 1715 aged 23 and was buried in the nave where he has a small monument. He came from Swansea and Fryers near Cardiff and his wife Elizabeth is buried in the west cloister.

David Jones

David Jones, poet and painter, died in 1974. He was born in Kent of Welsh parents. He was wounded at the battle of the Somme. A memorial stone to sixteen poets of the First World War, including Jones, was unveiled in Poets’ Corner in 1985.

John Philip Kemble

Kemble was the brother of actress Sarah Siddons and was born in Brecon. He was a celebrated actor and died in 1823. He was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a memorial statue in St Andrew’s chapel.

Llewellyn, Prince of Wales

The golden coronet of Llewellyn was offered at the shrine of St Edward the Confessor in the Abbey by Edward I’s young son Alphonso. This coronet, and all other relics at the Abbey, disappeared at the dissolution of the monastery in 1540.

David, 1st Earl Lloyd George

Lloyd George was twice Prime Minister and died in 1945. He entered Parliament as a Liberal in 1890 and led the Coalition Government during the First World War. He is buried by the river Dwyfor and his memorial stone in the nave, by Jonah Jones, was unveiled in 1970.

Sir Gilbert Lort

Gilbert Lort died in 1698. He was from Stackpoole in Pembrokeshire and has a monument in St John the Evangelist’s chapel. He is buried in the north transept as is his sister Dame Elizabeth Campbell d.1714, who erected the monument. She also has a tablet here.

William Lyndewood

William Lyndewood was bishop of St David’s and Keeper of the Privy Seal and died in 1446. His coffin was discovered in St Stephen’s chapel in the Palace of Westminster in 1852 and re-buried in the north cloister of the Abbey.

Edward and Henry Mansell

Edward died in 1681 aged 15. He was a son of Sir Edward Mansell of Margam in Glamorgan and has a small monument in the nave. His brother Henry, died 1693, is also buried here.

Martha, Lady Mansell

Martha died in 1718. She was the wife of Thomas, Baron Mansell of Margam, Glamorgan. She is buried in a vault in Henry VII’s chapel but has no marker.

Thomas Mansell

Thomas Mansell was a son of Bussy Mansell of Briton Ferry in Glamorgan and died in 1684. A double monument in the nave near his grave commemorates him and his kinsman William Morgan. Thomas’ son Thomas was Member of Parliament for Cardiff and is also buried in the nave but with no marker.

William Morgan

William Morgan of Tredegar died in 1684 aged 19 and is buried in the nave where he has a joint memorial with Thomas Mansell, his kinsman.

Richard Phillips

Richard was born in Pembrokeshire and was a descendant of Sir John Philipps of Picton Castle. He fought at the battle of the Boyne and became Governor of Nova Scotia.

Sarah Siddons

Sarah Siddons, the famous actress, died in1831. She was born in Brecon and is buried at Paddington cemetery in London. She has a memorial statue in St Andrew’s chapel, near to that of her brother John Philip Kemble.

George Stradling

George Stradling was from St Donats in Glamorgan and was connected with the Mansell family. He was a clergyman at the Abbey and later Dean of Chichester. He died in 1688 and is buried with his wife Margaret in the north aisle of the nave. A stone marks her grave but George’s marker has worn away.

Connop Thirlwall

Thirlwall was bishop of St David’s and wrote a history of Greece. He was buried in the south transept in 1875 and has a memorial bust.

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Marlais Thomas, the famous poet, died in 1953 and is buried at Laugharne in south Wales. His memorial, of green Penrhyn stone carved by Jonah Jones, was unveiled in Poets’ Corner in 1982.

Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke

Aymer de Valence, who died in 1324, was the son of William de Valence, Lord of Pembroke. As a cousin of Edward I he was frequently sent on diplomatic missions. His large tomb and effigy is on the north side of the High Altar. His wife Mary de St Pol, Countess of Pembroke has a modern memorial near his tomb.

William de Valence, Lord of Pembroke

William de Valence, Lord of Pembroke was a half-brother of King Henry III and died in 1296. He has a fine tomb in St Edmund’s chapel with an effigy covered with copper plates and champleve enamel details. His son Aymer de Valence is buried near the High Altar in the Abbey and two of his infant children, John and Margaret, have a grave in St Edward’s chapel (not visible).

John Warren

John Warren was bishop of Bangor and was buried in the north transept in 1800. His wife Elizabeth is also buried here and both have monuments in this transept.

Welsh Bible of 1588

This was translated by William Morgan who lodged at the Abbey with Dean Gabriel Goodman while the Bible was being printed. Morgan gave a first edition to the Abbey Library and in 1988 a copy of the Welsh New Bible was presented after a commemoration service at the Abbey.

Charles Williams

Charles Williams came from Caerleon and died in 1720 and has a monument in the north choir aisle near his grave. He was very wealthy and bequeathed money to found a school in his native town. His godson Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams is buried in the nave but his grave is unmarked.

John Williams

John Williams, who died in 1650, was Dean of Westminster and Archbishop of York. He came from Conway and was described as the ‘most eminent Welshman of his age’. He was a great benefactor to the Abbey Library, where his portrait still hangs. He is buried at Llandegai church (Penrhyn). Unfortunately there is no monument to him in the Abbey.