At St George’s Chapel Archives, one of the main ways we aim to promote access to our documents is through organising group visits for interested parties. We provide tours of our exhibition spaces, in which are displayed a range of fascinating documents dating from the fourteenth century onwards, including illuminated manuscripts, rare books, papal bulls, royal seals, and music manuscripts. Groups are provided with introductory talks about the documents and the history of St George’s Chapel, and visitors are encouraged to ask questions. Through these group visits we hope to engage with interested individuals who would not otherwise have the opportunity to view items from our collection.

We are happy to organise group visits for societies, institutions and organisations, whether local, national or international. In the past we have hosted visits from local history and community groups, religious congregations, local business groups, students and academics from local universities, and branches of national societies, including the Decorative and Fine Arts Society, the Womens’ Institute, and the Society of Archivists.

If you are a member of a group that would enjoy visiting the St George’s Chapel Archive and being shown a selection of our most exciting documents, then please contact us.

John (Archives Assistant)

The ‘Cross Gneth’ or ‘Croes Naid’ was a relic said to be a piece of the True Cross. It had belonged to the native Prince of North Wales and formed part of the spoils given over to Edward I at the close of the campaign against Llewellyn and the Welsh in 1283.

The relic was first taken to Westminster Abbey and later in the reign of Edward II it was kept in the Tower of London. Soon after the foundation of the Order of the Garter, Edward III gave the cross to the College of St George, Windsor Castle, to be displayed in St George’s Chapel.

It came to be regarded as the Chapel’s chief relic and remained the focus for pilgrimage and devotion for over 200 years. However, although it was listed in the 1534 inventory of the treasures of the Chapel made in the reign of Henry VIII, it seems to have been confiscated by Order of the Privy Council under Edward VI.

In the easternmost bay of the south aisle of the Choir is a carved and painted boss which represents Edward IV and Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury 1450-81, Dean of Windsor 1477-81 and Chancellor of the Garter kneeling on either side of a Celtic cross which stands on a small mound: this is the ‘Cross Gneth’ or ‘Croes Naid’. In addition, one of the carved angels surrounding the east window holds a Celtic cross and a further coloured boss in the Nave also depicts a Celtic cross.

Enid (Assistant Archivist)

Signature and seal of Nell Gwyn

St George’s Chapel Archives holds three leases, all dated 11 December 1684, conveying land and property to Eleanor ‘Nell’ Gwyn ([1651]-1687), the notorious mistress of King Charles II. Through the indenture pictured [SGC XI.N.7], the Dean and Canons of St George’s Chapel leased a garden in New Windsor to ‘Ellenor Gwinn’ at a cost of 12 shillings annual rent. Through the two additional indentures [SGC XI.N.5-6,9] Gwyn leased nearby properties on Priest Street and at a place called ‘the old Hawes’, lying to the south of the King’s garden. The leases are signed E.G. and hold the seal of arms used by Gwyn.

The tenements conveyed in these leases were but a few of the many properties leased and purchased for Nell Gwyn by the royal household. When these leases were signed in 1684, Gwyn already held the freehold for a house at the west end of Pall Mall and a lease for a summer residence at Bagnigge Wells House. The land and properties conveyed in the leases of 11 December 1684 were in fact intended as an enlargement of the property already leased by Gwyn in Windsor at Burford house. Gwyn’s properties at Windsor were situated at the back of the castle, meaning that they were conveniently located for rendezvous with the King.

John (Archives Assistant)

February 4th 1901

The funeral procession on the West Steps

The Body of Her most Excellent Majesty, Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith & Empress of India, was conveyed from Osborne to Portsmouth on Friday Feb. 1st 1901, & on the following day it was conveyed from Portsmouth to London & from London to Windsor into St George’s Chapel, where a Funeral Service was held conducted by The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Bishop of Winchester & The Dean of Windsor. The Body was then placed in the Albert Memorial Chapel where it remained until Monday Feb 4th 1901. on which day it was conveyed to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, where it was interred in the Royal Sarcophagus by us Randall Winton: P.F. Eliot, Dean of Windsor

Extracted from the Burials Register

Eleanor (Assistant Archivist)