“If I had served my God as diligently as I have done the King, He would not have given me over in my grey hairs.”
Earlier this month I visited Abbey Park in Leicester, once home to the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary de Pratis, more commonly known as Leicester Abbey. Unfortunately, virtually nothing remains of this once great religious house, as it was almost entirely demolished after the abbey’s dissolution in 1538.
I was there to see the final resting place of one of Tudor England’s most well known figures, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who died at Leicester Abbey on 29 November 1530.
Cardinal Wolsey by Sampson Strong
On 4 November 1530, Wolsey was arrested on a charge of high treason and was en route from York to London to face interrogation and, almost certainly, execution when he fell ill and died.
The Arrival of Cardinal Wolsey at Leicester Abbey. From the painting by Sir John Gilbert.
Wolsey’s remains were interred somewhere within the abbey’s church, possibly in the Lady Chapel, where they are thought to remain, however the exact location of his burial is unknown.
Back to our visit… we arrived early and parked in the main car park, about a ten-minute stroll to the abbey ruins. It was such a lovely walk through the park, past joggers, cyclists and picturesque lakes, home to beautiful swans and ducks. The kiddies had a great time spotting the many squirrels scampering around.
We crossed over a small bridge, past Wolsey’s statue donated by Wolsey the knitwear firm, which stands next to the cafe…
And on towards the ruins, where a memorial was erected on the site of the Lady Chapel, commemorating the fallen cardinal.
It’s decorated with Wolsey’s coat of arms.
The low stone walls are not remains of the abbey buildings, they were added in 1932 and mark out the plan of the abbey, established during excavations in the 1920s and 1930s.
Here we are at the west end of the church looking east towards where the transept and chancel would have been.
Abbey Park is also home to the ruins of a mansion known as Cavendish House, which dates to the late 16th or early 17th century. It was built on the site of the medieval abbey gatehouse using stones from the ruined abbey but was destroyed by fire during the English Civil War.
The remains of the abbey’s east precinct walls.
We left Abbey Park and made our way to Leicester Guildhall to see the Richard III exhibition. I’ll save those photos for another post. Perhaps now that Richard III’s skeleton has been found, Wolsey’s remains might be next on the list! A king buried in a carpark and a cardinal in a park… Leicester is certainly an interesting place!
Well, according to this link, Wolsey was buried near Richard III … so maybe, Wolsey’s remains will be found, too.
http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/history/henry%20VIII/wolsey+1.html
This is a little odd, as we visited the site where Richard III was found in Leicester and it’s a short drive away. Thanks for sharing though.
Wouldn’t that be a turn up, Cardinal Wolsey being found! I wonder how they could be sure though, Richard had a living relative to DNA, has Wolsey do you think? We known he had illegitimate children, I wonder if the line is still running, or that descendants know that they stem from him? I would imagine records maybe very scarce if none existent maybe, after all he should have been celibate!!! 🙂
It looks a lovely place to visit, and wish I’d gone when I lived closer, never mind….the squirrel in the photo has a has a glint in his eye, lol, or is it the Devil!! considering the time of year ….
Just realised when I checked on a map that Kenilworth Castle is less than an hour away from here, where Robert Dudley ‘entertained’ Elizabeth I, I went there a few times and never realised Abbey Park was so close!! Did you go to Kenilworth Natalie, its a beautiful romantic looking ruin.
My mtoher’s family is related to Cardinal Wolsey (spelled’ Woolsey’ now). If they find him, one of us might be able to help identify him. That would be exciting.
That is exciting!
Cardinal Woolsey was my 13th Great Grandfather from his relationship with Joan Larke. I am only one of many descendants. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
Well I’m not sure how accurate other than family stories with names and where they came from… and the spelling is a bit different now, but my father is supposed to be direct descendant somewhere along the lines… Wesley Thomas Woolsey Jr., now residing in US but we do favor some physical features
His children were farmed off onto another man when Wolsey bribed the man in question to take his mistress and two offspring in return for a favourable ruling in a case he was judging as Chancellor of England.
I don’t know…if Henry VIII didn’t manage it, Cromwell did. Poor Abbey Park.
Interesting Article. My family claims to have been from this line but records are sparse. A find of the Cardinal and some DNA testing would be fantastic.
I’m visiting from America and plan to pop by and see the site.
Thanks for your guide.
They must be excavating around where Richard was found. And
they know Wolsey was buried nearby. It would be so wonderful
a discovery. And we also have descendants!!!! Awesome.
Thanks for this
That statue of Cardinal Wolsey, donated by the Wolsey knitware firm, is atrocious, a caricature. What were people thinking? Wolsey was a flawed human being, as we all are, but he did do much to make England better in the light of his time, and he served his king to the best of his ability. He deserves a better statue on this spot, and – if it isn’t too much to expect – a few flowers around his faux grave?
I’m excited to find out. My Uncle Richard Woolsey married girl across the street. Her is Jane Bowlin . Funny isn’t it. Funny DNA line come back in a full circle. !!!’