St Edward's Chair - A History of the Medieval Coronation Chair and the Stone of Scone
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- #coronation #coronationchair #westminsterabbey #charlesiii #royal #medievalart #medievalhistory #stoneofscone #scone #medievalscotland
There is one item of furniture that we will see prominently during the coronation next May and that is St Edward’s Chair, the Coronation Chair. Commissioned by King Edward the First to contain the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny, most English and later British sovereigns have been anointed and crowned while seated on it. In this video I will look at the history and the significance of the chair, before moving on to look at the elaborate (mostly now lost) decoration of this iconic piece of seven-hundred-year-old furniture, focusing on the symbolism of it and how the chair and its decoration relates to a particular aspect of the wider furnishing of Westminster Abbey - and what that says about English kings conception of their office.
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It always amazes me to think of all the royal rear ends that have sat there in that spot, including Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, George III, Victoria, etc. Except of course for Edward V, Lady Jane Grey and Edward VIII.
Fascinating isn't it
Don't think lady Jane was crowned and Edward visited definitely wasnt
@@JaneA544 The three I mentioned were not crowned. That's why I mentioned them. The only three not crowned since the chair was built.
What an extraordinary feeling it must be for the king to know he too will add to that history.
@@allanbarton A feeling that William may not have considered yet, and certainly not Prince George. Sometimes history is spread across a field of battle or an entire city; but sometimes it's all encompassed in a few sheets of wood, about three feet by two feet.
I saw this chair in person. It looks like it spent years in a high school classroom with all the initials carved into it! It still held the Stone of Scone at the time.
I saw it as a child with the Stone intact. I’m Scottish and I remember my father explaining the history. It was a big event when the Stone returned to Scotland.
Graffiti is quite common on old items and buildings. In the Orkney Islands, off the north Scottish coast, there are amazing chambered tombs. When they were excavated Viking graffiti was found carved into the inner walls.
Remember the funny scene in "The King's Speech"?
The graffiti, the shabbiness and the faded decoration all add to its charm... love it! As I love this channel!
I am American and took my Daughter on a tour to England and France in 1997 a everyone on our tour got a laugh over the graffiti on the Coronation Chair, glad the British have left it there.
Graffiti is one of the oldest art forms! 😂 I agree, adds to the charm. Would’ve loved to have seen the chair in its original condition too, though! Great video, since seeing the coronation I had been wondering about the chair’s history.
I feel that I'll be able to watch the upcoming coronation with a more informed eye ,thanks to your videos. Thank you!
Yes it will help the middle and poor class of London understand their roles as serfs
I have discovered your videos only about a month ago and I am totally enthralled with your knowledge of British history. I am a proud American but I do envy the British people for all the items/buildings/churches/etc. that are still around to view. And I so appreciate the pacing of your speaking voice - not too slow and not too fast. So many people today seem to want to spew out words a mile a minute. Thank you so much for your videos and please keep up with showing and teaching all of us about history.
You should visit! Thanks for appreciating our history.
Sandy Bruce!! My goodness! With a name like Sandy Bruce it's certain your family origins are not American. There's little doubt that, akin to myself, you are descended from teuchters (persons dwelling in the countryside) from the east coast of Scotland. Your splendid name would suit you very well in any town from there. Especially the likes of Brechin, my home town. All the very best!
Yes, all that history is absolutely fascinating. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the beautiful architecture and furnishings and imagining how it might have been to live amongst so much beauty. Of course, I do keep in mind only the upper classes had the privilege of doing so. Also, I very much enjoy hearing someone speak with such eloquence. I wish people here in the USA were taught to articulate their words and, as you mentioned, speak at a much slower pace which of course happens naturally when one properly articulates when speaking. Just so you know, I am American born and raised in the southeastern part of the country and I am blessed for it. I love my country as any patriotic American does. I simply wish people would spend more time reading books and learning proper grammar. It pains me how lacking our educational system has become. It's shameful. Worse than shameful, our own schools are, and have been, teaching our children to hate this once great nation. Communism is trying to destroy us. Nikita Khrushchev said it would accomplish that from the inside out and that is exactly what has been going on here for decades only most people here aren't aware of that because our schools have stopped teaching that which is important and have been undermining our Representative Republic. And so many of our people are walking blind. I apologize for my lengthy comment. I am just so upset about it all. Venting my emotions. Oh well. I truly enjoyed this video and hope to see many, many more of the same. God bless you all and keep you safe. ✝️💟🇺🇲♥️😔🙏✌️🙂🇺🇲❣️🇺🇲❣️🇺🇲❣️
Bless you Sandy for your kind comments and words of encouragement. I will keeping going, it is great to know people like the work I'm doing.
@@peterbilt-bo1vymany more to come. I am a great believer that beauty has the ability to save the world, it's just a matter of enthusing the younger generation with a love of beauty.
I’m learning and SEEING so much English history from your channel. I’ll certainly be looking for this coronation chair now that you’ve explained it’s history! Thank you again for what I am learning. 🇺🇸
It is also believed that the real stone was moved and hidden as Edward Longshanks' Army headed for Scone. The Monks removed it and hurriedly replaced it with a lump of local sandstone according to tradition. The tradition is that the real Stone will be restored to view by its hereditary keepers when Scotland regains its Independence.
"There were no carvings, nor carrying hooks, nor any of the details seen in the 12th-century seals of the Scottish kings and also illustrated in contemporary coinage.
These show the kings seated on some larger stone object, high enough for them to be seated on in the first place. The carried-off Stone of Destiny is only 10.75 inches (27cm high.) " must-see-scotland.
The fact Edward had the stone placed in the coronation chair has me truly gobsmacked.
You never disappoint. 🌟
I remember seeing the Coronation Chair on my visit to the UK and thinking 'Those naughty school boys.'. Thank you for bringing history to life through your videos.
There was a similar stone at Tullyhogue in Co Tyrone in Ireland, upon which the local O'Neill Chiefs were installed since the early middle ages (outdoors on an artificial hill or Rath that mayitself date from prehistoric time and still exists). After the Tudor conquest of Ulster, this stone was apparently smashed and scattered, symbolizing the end of the Gaelic order that had lasted for over a thousand years in Ulster. Whether the Stone of Scone was quarried locally or brought from elsewhere, it does seem likely that it (and enthronement seats like it) were connected to the installation ceremonies of early Gaelic chieftains, and to the early medieval Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riada which comprised, at its height, much of Ulster and Western Scotland.
Is that the Hill of the O'Neills near Dungannon?
It’s interesting to see how the more that we’ve learned about the universe the less powerful the monarchy became in the eyes of the public. I’m not diminishing the monarchy but they held this godly position a long time ago that they don’t or can’t reasonably hold anymore. Thank you for this fabulous education. British history fascinates me.
I discovered your channel just recently. Your videos are well done and fascinating, I’ve been watching all of them! Thank you!
Glad you like them, thank you for the subscription.
The story of the theft/liberation of the stone is seriously epic considering how recent it was. Imagine the moment where you’re getting away with reclaiming this epic and thousand plus year old object and you drop it and break it in half 😂
And then Yakety Sax begins to play.
I thought there was speculation that the stone returned to Westminster after the theft/liberation was not the actual stone of scone and that the original had been buried under a castle in Scotland. But I may have that wrong.
@@gerber680 the guy who repaired the stone (Scottish) said he secretly put a note inside it before joining the pieces together. It could very well say “PSYCHE” :)
Perfect Monty Python moment
I seem to recall the story of the Stones 'reappropriation' being used in an episode of ANGUS MACBETH.
Brilliant overview Allan! It brings a now rather battered chair to life as the throne it once was. It is incredible though, that such a significant piece of royal, and quite political history, was left unguarded for schoolboys to write on and rest in! It is wonderful that it has survived the clear ravages of history.
I find that extraordinary too - great churches like Westminster Abbey sort of entered a period of malaise from the 17th to the early 19th century and such things were not infrequent.
How interesting! Thank you for uncovering the meaningful symbolism that is lost if not uncovered and explained. I’ve seen the chair in person and was a bit disappointed, but with this background information just might see it with a new set of eyes.
The floor mosaic is stunningly intricate and beautiful. The messages conveyed by its imagery are compelling. I do hope the restorative work allows it to be on view during the coronation and no longer hidden under a carpet! Also wonderful to learn about the original "glitz" of the coronation chair and how it was designed to incorporate the Stone of Scone. Cheers.
Yes, it will be amazing to see. This is a tradition that originated with the Romans and is a very cool link to antiquity.
The Cosmatti floor was clearly visible during the wedding William and Cathetine and the funeral of our late Queen - magnificent 🙂
Thank you, Allan! What a wonderful video, full of fascinating detail.
I am pleased you enjoyed it.
It would be lovely to see the chair restored to its former beauty, and yet so important for its history to be seen and maintained.
Readying myself for the coronation, I'm a 32 year old English patriot who loves a bit of history.
What a fascinating history, I love our traditions and what a great one this is!
What a great video, cheers fella.
Hello Thomas, thanks for commenting. It is going to be amazing, to see history unfold before our eyes and for the first time in 60 years this chair once again serve its purpose.
Fascinating, as always. I very much look forward to hearing your perspectives on some of the other vital aspects of the Coronation proceedings. Well done!
Thank you - lots more to come, I reckon thirty + videos between now and May!
@@allanbarton You come up with some of the best topics! I loved the explanation of the tiled floor as well, I do hope we see it in it's full glory at the coronation!
I am stunned at how the chair looked firstly, and Queen Victoria had it painted brown? Why? Its so beautiful regardless and all those famous bottoms sitting on it and the floor is gorgeous, yet I had no idea of the gemstones in the actual flooring, and I want to see it one day
I rather like the weathered look too, but it would be great to have seen it in its original splendour. I hope you can see the floor, that really is splendid.
I love the chair in it,s battered, faded, worn out state! It just screams of it,s history and authenticity...all those previous monarchs sitting proudly..l really can visualise it! I sincerely hope that it is never restored. Late to the party, but thankyou for this wonderful account. The Coronation was beautiful in all it,s historic splendour.
Thank you for the wonderful explanation of the Coronation chair I appreciate it tremendously
You are very welcome, thanks for watching!
I can’t wait for the Coronation and your description of it. 😁😁😁
I can't wait either!
Hi Allan! Quite an amazing bit of history surrounds the throne, stone, and floor mosaic. I was barely into the video when I had to reach for pen and paper to make notes. I consider myself privileged indeed to have access to a scholar such as yourself. Cheers!
That's great Terry, I am really glad you have enjoyed it - very kind of you to say that you are learning from me. It is a great joy to be able to share with you all the things I am passionate about. Thanks very much.
@@allanbarton I would like to thank you, as well. I very much appreciate your videos. I find history fascinating, to say the least. Please, do carry on with making these fascinating and informative videos. Thank you. 🙂🇺🇲❣️
Didn't fully realise the amount and, importance of the symbolism of the chair. Fascinating thankyou.
I just watched this video about St. Edward's chair. Your is the first explanation I have read about how all the graffiti got on it. I wonder that it sat there so unguarded that the Westminster schoolboys actually had time to carve into it! I watched Elizabeth II get crowned in 1953, when I was four years old in California on a sweltering hot day. Our ancient TV set had what we would now consider a small screen, and the image was grainy black and white. But, I knew it came all the way from England, across the ocean. I was transfixed, an anglophile from all the fairytales my mom read to me. This time, I will be working, but I plan to catch UA-cam clips later on.
Well done! The history of the chair or throne is fascinating! Along with Edward 1 snatching it from the Scotts. The floor is beautiful!
I am really enjoying your excellent videos. So informative and presented in a very concise and excellent manner. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for another wonderful video on the history of the coronation. I love all the history that is still there for us to enjoy and learn.
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
I adore your channel and have learned so much and it really is your narration that makes it extra special. You sound much like Father Brown who I equally adore so that's probably why I enjoy your channel so much. Keep up the great work
'Hammer of the Scots' ....Love it ! 😉
Thank you for your most informative and inspiring video. As a a proud Brit, who loves our history, watching this and learning so much, is an absolute joy.👍🇬🇧
Thank for the all these details. I really appreciate it. This is the information I've been looking for. You provide the detail without going too deep, just right. Plus, the pictures you used are perfect. Getting up close to see the details you are talking about.
Excellent presentation of the history of St. Edward's Chair. I'm glad I found your channel!
Absolutely amazing.... I want to be in London for the coronation...I made this promise to myself when I was in my teens and I am hoping to fulfill it in the not too distant future.
Great videos...thank you.
I saw the stone when it was still in Westminster, proudly stood in the crowds on the Royal mile and watched it being taken up to the castle and of course also visited the stone at the castle.
And will most definitely go to view it when it is taken to Perth for permanent display.
May well be a piece of stone quarried in or near Scone but there is something magical about it nonetheless.
Get a grip. It’s a fake piece of stone 🤪
Ah. But is the fake of a fake?@@mcdell6970
Allan you’re simply the best and bye far the most knowledgeable understandable and interesting person to listen to . Thank you Jamie Romsey England uk
This was informative and fascinating. Thank you!
Moltes gràcies! thanks so much and thanks for the subtitles!
The history of the chair is quite amazing. Now, they need to extract The Blarney Stone and incorporate it into the ceremony!
Thank you so much. I found this fascinating. I think it is wonderful that the King will be Crowned in a tatty old (very old) chair, thinking of all his relatives, good, bad and indifferent, who were Crowned before him. I expect Charles will have the Mosaic showing. I am so looking forward to it.
This was so well done.
It's very intresting the coronation chair. I will watch your previous video's and can't wait for the next 😆. Great Britian history is my favorite
I love the scene in The King’s Speech where Lionel Logue infuriates George VI by lounging on it, prompting him to yell “I have a voice!” in the cathedral.
Yup, lol. The movie showing it with graffiti is how I learned the real one was vandalized too.
Wow. I saw the stone and the Scottish crown jewels when I visited Edinburgh castle in 1999
I love the Scottish crown jewels the Honours of Scotland.
I wonder, will there be a procession of some kind bringing the stone south to London? Something like the procession that brought Queen Elizabeth's body back to London from Balmoral?
That floor is spectacular.
Thank you for this very informative bideo👌👌
Fascinating & thanks very much for producing this - hope you get lots of views so 'the people' or in fact 'The King's People' will understand the ceremony more than otherwise.
Hope the pavement remains uncovered since it explains the role of the monarch not as 'head of state' but as the embodiment of the kingdom (so in my opinion he's not 'head of state', but is 'the state' itself, so you can't be head of yourself!). Fixing the King in this way, I think, will allow a more democratic ceremony hopefully involving fewer peers and including at least the presiding officers of the Westminster & devolved legislatures. Plus as you say, St Edward's Chair will look amazing with the pavement complimenting its design.
What's also interesting was that the chair remained so potent that Oliver Cromwell used it at his investiture as Lord Protector during the (probably necessary) interregnum. I also think the Stone of Scone will become a bit of a hot potato but Sturgeon will support it's temporary return home just as she was happy to attend the Accession Council.
Just finished watching the Coronation and was fascinated by the chair. Great video.
Thanks, glad you found it helpful!
A thoroughly enjoyable and most informative presentation. Many thanks for acquainting me and, I'm sure, many others, with lots of information of which I was previously ignorant! Having just discovered your channel, it's a pleasure to subscribe.
Great video. Are you going to do a video about the annexes to the abbey built for each coronation. '37 and '53 were particularly interesting examples of contemporary architecture contrasting with the ancient abbey.
Yes, all of that is coming in future videos. I have a really interesting set of postcards from the 1937 coronation that shows the abbey empty with everything prepared - really wonderful. Including the annex. I wonder if they will construct one this time? They don't have long to do so.
@@allanbarton My instinct is that if they do, it will be smaller and more temporary like sort of pavilion or marquee. Perhaps able to be moved and used again elsewhere or again for William's eventual coronation.
Thanks!
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
So very interesting and informative. So glad I found your video. Thank you so much for publishing.
VERY INFORMATIVE video, Allan!!💚👍💖
Fascinating information than you❤️🇨🇦
Glad you enjoyed it
Enjoyed, TYVM!
I enjoy your videos. Very educational. Very captivating. Thanks for this content
We'll see, we'll see
I'd to hear a commentary on the actual carolingian coronation by you!! I'm certain you would have many revealing insights.
Thank you. Very interesting.
I appreciate yr videos very much. Thank you. Fascinating history without any political twists according to the new ideology.
Thank you for watching.
Well done Sir. Most interesting.
Thank you very much Bob.
Well done! All over your videos are excellent. You are to be commended...your style is so understandable.
I appreciate that! Thank you very much.
It was really worth watching. Thank you.
Thank you for explaining this.
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
Another superb video with incredible detail .
Thanks Charlotte.
Absolutely fascinating. How delightful that it's still around and still used-it really is beautiful! As someone else said, when the coronation happens, my understanding and experience of it will be much richer thanks to this.
To offer a correction, unless I'm mistaken, the Edward who commissioned this throne (Edward I) is not a saint, although he was likely named after the saint. The saint, Edward the Confessor, _was_ an English king, but is one of the pre-Norman Invasion monarchs, hence his lack of numbering. To confuse things, the chapel in which this throne resided until 1998 was indeed that of _St._ Edward. Also, the Westminster Abbey website thinks that the king painted on the back could have been either Edward.
Glad you enjoyed it Lucas. Indeed Edward I was not a saint! The chair is of course named after Edward the Confessor and was placed next to his shrine, and painted with his image to associate it directly with him. Like St Edward's crown this is a very deliberate attempt by the Plantagenets to justify their rule through a connection with the Saxon king and his saintliness. Do watch the next video on St Edward's Crown and its history as a relic as that is the ultimate example of that.
As for who the image on the chair is, I think the Abbey website is wrong and it is certainly not Edward I. Thr figure is holding a church which in late medieval iconography indicated the founder of a church. That could be Henry III who refounded the Abbey, but is more likely Edward the Confessor given the name of the chair.
Love your videos! You’re an excellent presenter. Thank you!
So interesting thorough and knowledgeable videos on each subject. Excellent
Thank you kindly!
Lovely video!! I learned so much! Thank you for this very interesting video!
So glad that you do not have an accent and I can understand your speech, usually English people have an accent makes it hard to understand. I enjoy your videos.
Thank you, I have a slight East Midlands accent, but having moved around a lot it's not very strong.
What like you Americans don’t have accents.. New York,Deep South..really hard to understand Y’all …🙄🏴🇬🇧
Thank you for the very informative video. All the best to your channel!
Thank you!
Another Allan Barton gem. Thank-you!
Absolutely amazing. Thank you, Allan,
Great video. Nice to see Walter of Durham doing his job...My home city lol
Fascinating!!!
have been watching your videos they are a great watch
Great video as usual. I am very interested to see what they do with the floor for King Charles' coronation. Hopefully it isn't covered in carpet again. Maybe they wanted to protect the surface when carpet was introduced. Sound deadening may be an issue, like all the horses' and troops' marching feet echoing round the streets during the Queen's funeral, so they had to bring in some sand. Maybe some red carpet strips for people to walk on but leaving the main floor uncovered?
I hope so. I think the area to the west of this floor which needs to be raised up anyway would be best carpeted - but there is no need for the whole thing to be carpeted.
Brilliant, very informative.
Interesting video
Awesome lesson. Thanks!
Marvelous as always!
Thanks Jill for all your kind comments.
I love this channel!
Great stuff as always! Thank you!
So interesting enjoying your channel!
Wow, how interesting!
That was interesting. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
The stone of destiny is back where it belongs. Also no English monarch ever sat on the throne of Scotland but a Scottish monarch sat on the throne of England when James the sixth became James the first.
Indeed, people always seem to forget that it was a Scottish takeover, not an English one!
Yes Robert also that it was a Scottish king (James ) whom created the plantation of Ireland great to see the Scots taking some responsibility as we English always get the blame and hate !! 👍🏻🏴
He probably might have. My point was even though Edward 1 wanted to be king of Scotland he never was. History tells you no English monarch was ever King or Queen of Scotland. But it was a Scottish take over of the English throne thanks to your Elizabeth 1 not having any children.
Oh there’s always a bitter Scot spewing bile…. 🙄🏴
It’s just a bit of rock, you can pick them up anywhere.
thank you for this...its so interesting...
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just found you , fascinated with this history from Talladega Alabama USA
Welcome Mari.
@@allanbarton it is an honor to listen and learn more from such learned person, listing and learn j.g
@@allanbarton listening and trying to take in all your information
so happy to have found your, rather niche, channel!
I could't do anything else but niche - I am really glad you like it.
@@allanbarton lol, and plenty more for me to watch. thank you
These videos are awesome
Thank you.
Fascinating video. I had always thought, because of its title, that the chair dated back to the pre-Norman St. Edward the Confessor. I was a bit disappointed to discover from your video at it originated only as a propaganda instrument of the later King Edward I, to usurp both the Scottish throne as well as usurping the mantle of the sainted King Edward.
Ooh another bitter Scot ..🙄😂🇬🇧
@@Ionabrodie69 Guess again ...
Wouldn’t it be nice for someone to make an exact replica and decorate it as it used to be with all the gilt? It would be great to see it as it used to be
I would love to see a replica made.
@@allanbarton I’m imagining a painted slipcover over the back. No harm done to the chair itself that way.
Your last name is my husbands first name. Love you videos. They are so informative and interesting.
It's a great name! Glad you are enjoying the content.
excellent!
love your videos so much
Thank you.
I had the great privilege of being shown the coronation chair in 1985 by Alan Luff, who was at that time the Precentor of Westminster Abbey. Allan, do you know where the chair would have been physically located in the Abbey during that period? I'm struggling to remember that detail of my visit. Thanks for the wonderful work, as always. 👏
It was in two places in the Edward the Confessor's chapel in recent years, just to the east of the altar screen behind the high altar and then next to Henry V's tomb. In 85 I think it was still to the east of the altar screen. It is such an imposing chair when you come face to face with it.
@@allanbarton My first time in the Abbey in 1990 I clearly remember it at the top of the steps from the Henry VII chapel to the tomb of Henry V. It struck me how easily anyone could approach it. So it's probably better off in its current location.
And the chair was still at the top of the steps from the Henry VII chapel when I first visited the abbey in 2009. Although the chair was just out of reach from visitors, it was not behind glass as it is today to the left of the western door. Personally, I prefer the current dominant location, located just across from the Tomb of the Unknown and adjacent to the historical painting of King Richard II, apparently the first image of an English monarch painted from life.
Love your channel! I just subscribed ⭐️
Welcome Trish, thanks for subscribing.