ABBY DISCOVERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1921, Page 8

ABBY DISCOVERY.

RENOVATING MONUMENTS. An interesting discovery, which, it is stated, may lead to an entirely new conception of the former grandeur of Westminster Abbey from a decorative point of view, has recently been made. As the result of cleaning operations on some of the early tombs it lias been discovered that the brownish black color of the monuments is not, as is generally believed due to the dirt and wear of centuries, but'caused by a heavy coat of opaque varnish, which was deliberately applied many years ago and has covered a wonderful display of Gothic heraldic design work in gold and '■ brilliant coloring. Work has commenced on the tomb of Edmund Crouchbaek, Earl of Lancaster, one of the three fine monuments on the north side of the sanctuary, the others being those of Aveline, Countess of Lancaster, and Aymer or Audomar de Valence, Earl of Pembroke. The renovation of the monuments has been entrusted to Mr. E. W. Tristram, of the Royal College of Art. who states that when the work is completed the public will have some idea of what the whole of the abbey must have looked like in the Middle Ages in its wonderful garb of gold and brilliant colors. The. painting already brought to light pn the Crouchbaek tomb is exquisite in color and rich of pattern. The sculptured figures on the canopy also were highly painted. This is shown in the small figure of the earl in the effigy, in surcoat emblazoned with his arms, the coloring being so fresh that the complexion on the face is actually visible. The heraldy, which covers the moulding, is now being revealed.as a succession of brilliantly painted coats of arms.