This remarkable and detailed floor was inlaid at the behest of King Henry III (1207-72)
For the recent coronation of King Charles III, Westminster Abbey uncovered its Cosmati floor, a beautiful 13th-century marble pavement, on which stood the throne of St Edward, which might not exist at all were it not for the architectural ambitions of one of history’s most overlooked English monarchs.
This remarkable and detailed floor was inlaid at the behest of Henry III (1207-1272), one of the least celebrated monarchs in British history, which seems rather unfair when one considers the incredible architectural legacy he left behind, including not only this floor but significant investments in iconic royal palaces such as Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.
There have been eight King Henrys of England, making it the joint most common name of British
