Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster: Fan Vaulting Guide

Discover Henry VII’s Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey—its fan vaulting, Tudor symbolism, stained glass, and royal burials.

12/2/2025

17 min read

Exquisite fan‑vaulted ceiling of Henry VII’s Lady Chapel

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.

Fan vaults

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.

Forfatter

Architecture & Craft Editor

Guiden er skrevet for et stille, rigt møde med Westminster Abbey – klog timing, nænsomme ruter og nok kontekst til at få kapeller og historier til at synge.