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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral, Hertfordshire, Home Counties, England, British Isles

St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral is in St Albans Cathedral [Map].

Vault below St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral in which Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester (age 56) was buried after 23rd February 1447. Restored in 2000.

A stone chamber, below the abbey shrine area, built in the 1440s as the tomb of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester; it was rediscovered in 1703. This is 'the earliest accessible vault with its own distinct entrance, approached down a steep flight of steps. On the east wall are traces of a painting of the Crucifixion, another unique feature. The original coffin was destroyed 1713-22 but some bones remain in the vault.

On 20th January 1465 Abbot John Whethampstede (age 46) died. He was buried under what is not the Welcome Centre at St Albans Cathedral. There is a memorial to him in St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral.

Abbot John Whethampstede: In or before 1419 he was born to Hugh Bostock. in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire [Map]. In 1451 he was appointed Abbot of St Albans.

St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral. Ledger stone of John Gape (age 79), died 20th April 1703, and his wife Ann, died 31st December 1682.

Ann Oxton: she was born to Thomas Oxton of St Albans. On 9th April 1646 John Gape and she were married. On 31st December 1682 she died.

St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral. Vault of the Shepherd family built in 1768.

St Alban's Shrine, St Albans Cathedral was built, or rebuilt, in 1308 but was destroyed when the Abbey was closed down in 1539. Pieces from this shrine were used to restore the shrine in 1872 and again in 1993. There is also a small memorial chapel underneath the main shrine chapel.