500 Year Old Marriage Bed Of Henry VII And Elizabeth Of York

A four-poster bed dumped in a Chester car park has been confirmed as the marriage bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

In 2015, the medieval four-poster bed was confirmed to be the marriage bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

The 500-year-old bed is believed to be England's only surviving medieval royal state bed and is worth an estimated £20m.

It was left in the car park of the Redland Hotel in Chester in 2010 after standing in the hotel's wood-panelled honeymoon suite for around 15 years.

In 2010, the Redland House Hotel had redevelopments and the historic bed was at risk of being thrown away, but thankfully, it was spotted by an antique dealer who sold it at auction.

The bed was dismantled and for a while lay in the hotel car park before being collected by the auctioneers.

It was described in the auction catalogue as "profusely carved Victorian four poster bed with armorial shields".

Ian Coulson, an antique bed restorer, bought it at the online auction for £2,200.

Coulson throughly examined the bed when it was delivered to his studio.

Coulson was immediately struck by the age of the wood and that the carvings had been made by hand rather than by machine – all of which suggested that this was a bed of a considerable age.

Researchers confirmed, through DNA tests, and extensive analysis of its paintwork, that the bed was made for the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, on 18th January 1486.

DNA tests of the wood proved that it all came from a single continental European oak tree, of a type known to have been imported by the English royal family for their beds.

A more detailed examination, which involved the opening of joints and the identification of later repairs, revealed evidence of medieval construction techniques, markings - clues to the original appearance and configuration of the bed.

Coulson shared his findings with a range of other experts who agreed with his suggestion that this was a Tudor era bed.

Foyle, who carried out research on the bed, described it as "one of the most significant artefacts of early Tudor history" and " the most important piece of furniture in England".

Following the DNA tests, the bed is held in Coulson's Langley Collection of historic beds and has been valued at £20 million.

All of the research carried out on the bed was presented at a one-day symposium at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, in 2019.

Experts have called it a ‘spectacularly carved’ bed.

The headboard depicts Adam and Eve in likeness of the King and Queen, surrounded by the fruits of paradise which would symbolise fertility and the couple’s hope for an heir, giving rise to its name, The Paradise State Bed.

The marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York symbolised the end of the War of the Roses by joining Henry's House of Lancaster to Elizabeth's House of York.

And the bed's design reflected this featuring both the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster.

The marriage bed would have been used on the couple's marriage night and it is believed that their first son Arthur, Prince of Wales was conceived on this occasion.

The couple married at Westminster Abbey and the bed stood in the Painted chamber of the nearby Palace of Westminster, as confirmed by the bed's outline matching the shape of a mural known to have been painted there.

It is also possible that the future Henry VIII and Henry and Elizabeth's six subsequent children were conceived in the bed.

During the English Civil War, many Royalist possessions were destroyed by Parliamentarian forces, including almost all Royal beds.

Henry VII's bed is the only complete bed frame to survive this destruction, the only other Royal bed artefact being a fragment of the headboard of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves.

Did Henry VII and Elizabeth of York have a happy marriage?

Historical records suggest that the marriage between Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was, at least outwardly, a successful and stable union.

Their marriage took place in January 1486, and it was a politically strategic match aimed at ending the Wars of the Roses by uniting the rival houses of Lancaster and York.

This union helped bring stability to England after years of civil conflict.

While there may not have been passionate love between Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at the beginning, there is evidence that their relationship evolved into one of mutual respect and cooperation.

Elizabeth played an important role in supporting her husband and maintaining the image of a united and stable monarchy.

The couple had several children, and their eldest son, Arthur, was born in 1486.

Arthur's birth was particularly significant because it symbolised the potential for the Tudor dynasty's continuation.

Unfortunately, Arthur died in 1502, leaving their second son, Henry (the future Henry VIII), as the heir to the throne.

Henry VIII (1491–1547) is one of the most written about kings in English history.

Henry is best known for his six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage annulled.

Despite political challenges and personal losses, there is no indication that Henry VII and Elizabeth of York had a notably unhappy marriage.

Their partnership contributed to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty and the consolidation of power in England.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please follow Exploring GB on Facebook for daily travel content and inspiration.

Don't forget to check out our latest blog posts below!

Thank you for visiting Exploring GB.