Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster: Fan Vaulting Guide

Stone turned lace: the Lady Chapel’s fan vaulting is England’s late‑Gothic encore.

Highlights

• Unrivalled fan vaults by master mason Robert Janyns the Younger.
• Tudor badges (portcullis, rose) weave politics into ornament.
• Burial place of Henry VII, Elizabeth of York, and later monarchs.

How It Works

• Conoid shells spring from slender shafts; ribs are decorative and structural.
• Light filters through intricate tracery to gilded stalls below.

Visiting Tips

• Bring binoculars to study bosses and pendants.
• Midday light best reveals rib shadows and depth.

Bottom Line

An architectural love letter to dynasty and devotion.