Elizabethan cloth finally moved after centuries
ONE of the most treasured items in the National Trust collection has been lifted through the roof at Coughton Court, in Warwickshire, by crane.
The Tabula Eliensis has remained in the tower at the top of the old manor near Alcester for nearly 70 years, unable to be moved due to its size and delicate condition.
Now the treasured painted cloth has been moved through an opening in the soon-to-be-repaired roof with the support of National Trust’s conservation team.
Rediscovered in a roof space in the early 1900s, the 16th-century work has been displayed in the tower since the mid-1950s.
The incredibly rare Elizabethan painted cloth records a history of Ely, covering nearly 1,000 years.
It was created in 1596, and tells of a turbulent period in English history, when Elizabeth I repeatedly faced imminent invasion from the Catholic Philip II of Spain.
The Tabula Eliensis presents the coats of arms of the Catholic knights and gentlemen interned at Ely, Broughton and Banbury between 1588 and 1594.
It shows the arms of Thomas Throckmorton of Coughton Court, who was held at Broughton in 1590 and 1592-3 and Banbury in 1594.
It will now undergo conservation before returning to Coughton Court.
Project manager, Aimee Tavana said: “The chance to free the Tabula Eliensis from the Tower showroom is exciting.
“With the removal of the roof, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move the Tabula Eliensis from
where it has been marooned for almost 70 years, to facilitate its care and future re-display in an area of
the property that is more easily accessible to all. We have been able to work with several highly skilled and specialist contractors.
“We’re very pleased to be able to ensure the Tabula Eliensis can be protected and enjoyed by our visitors for generations to come.”
Coughton Court has been the home of the Throckmorton family since 1409.
John de Throckmorton, Under Treasurer of England to Henry VI, acquired Coughton in the early 15th century through his marriage to Eleanor de Spiney.
Their descendants have held it for
600 years and although the National Trust have owned the house since 1946, the family still lives there.
The present resident, Mr Magnus Birch-Throckmorton, and his family enjoy occupancy of the house and manage the stunning gardens that they have created.
The property’s ‘Through the Roof’ project will see key sections of the roof conserved, along with essential conservation works across the fabric of the property, to ensure it can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
The house remains open to visitors throughout the project.