Eleanor of Castile

A  visit today to Lincoln Cathedral and Castle which are both of such great historical interest. The Norman castle houses one of the four extant copies of the Magna Carta whilst the fabulous Medieval cathedral boasts visually stunning architecture and stained glass. However for Hispanic Antiques it was the presence of the Tomb of Eleanor of Castile , wife of Edward I and mother to Edward II . Eleanor was born in Burgos Castile, Spain in 1241. She had the benefit of three medieval burials; her main body is in Westminster Abbey; her heart was buried in Blackfriars whilst her viscera were placed in this tomb in Lincoln Cathedral after her death in 1290 . Having died in Harby just outside Lincoln it was from there that her body was transported to London with a stone cross being built at each of it’s resting places overnight , hence Charing Cross and Kings Cross. The two best complete examples are at Geddlington and Hardingstone.