Last week I had a very interesting and enjoyable conversation with Lara from ‘Tudor History Blog’ on Twitter (@tudorhistory) about the two ‘Jane’ carvings on the walls of the Beauchamp Tower at the Tower of London.
The Tower of London Virtual Guide states that there was a third ‘Jane’ carving but it was destroyed during building work.
’48. “JANE” This interesting inscription, repeated also in the window (85), has always been supposed to refer to the Lady Jane Grey, daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, and wife of Guildford Dudley, fourth son of the Duke of Northumberland. A second repetition in another part of the room was unfortunately obliterated when a new window was made to fit this chamber for a mess-room.
It is sometimes, but erroneously, supposed that the name was carved by this Queen often days herself hut it is improbable that she was ever imprisoned in the Beauchamp Tower. She is known to have lived in the house of Partridge, the Gaoler.
It is much more probable that the two inscriptions were placed on the wall either by Lord Guildford Dudley, her husband, or by his brother…’ (Tower of London Virtual Guide).
Historic Royal Palaces (@HRP_Learning) very kindly posted photos of the two carvings and details of their location in the room in the Beauchamp Tower (one is by the window; the other is on a wall between two window bays).
