Peterborough Cathedral – Resting place of Queen Katharine of Aragon

In January I visited Peterborough Cathedral, the final resting place of Queen Katharine of Aragon.

Peterborough Cathedral

‘The funeral cortege left Kimbolton on 27th January, stayed overnight at Sawtry Abbey and arrived at Peterborough on the 28th for the funeral on the 29th…The chief mourner was Henry’s niece, Eleanor, daughter of the Duke of Suffolk.’ (Higham)

Grave of Queen Katharine of Aragon

‘Above her tomb now hang the Royal Arms of Henry VIII and the arms of Aragon, Castile and Leon with her own personal emblem, the pomegranate.’ (Higham)

North Aisle

The 1539 Inventory of the Cathedral is on display. ‘When the Abbey was closed the commissioners made a complete list of the Abbey’s possessions.

‘Item in the inclofed place where the Lady Katherine lieth buried one Altar cloth, of black cloth, one Pall of black velvet, with white cloth of Silver croffed, and one white Altar cloth.’ (p.61, Inventory)

1539 Inventory

There is also a display about Katharine.

Katharine of Aragon display

‘Peterborough Cathedral is also the former burial place of Mary, Queen of Scots, which can be found in the South Aisle. Buried here after her execution at Fotheringhay in 1587, her body was removed to Westminster Abbey in 1612 by order of her son, James.’ (p.16, Peterborough Pocket Guide)