10. King Stephen Was Buried In A Magnificent Tomb In Kent... But King Henry VIII Had It Demolished
King Stephen reigned between December 1135 and August 1154 during the period of English history known as "the Anarchy", so chaotic was the nation which became enveloped by civil war during this time. Having decided to recognise Henry II as his successor, Stephen died in October 1154 of a stomach disorder. It is believed that Stephen had been ill for many months before he died while travelling to Dover, where he passed away in a local priory. Originally the king was buried at Faversham Abbey - a Cluniac-style monastery Stephen had founded - with his wife Matilda of Boulogne and his son Eustace. However, King Henry VIII decided all monasteries should be demolished once he withdrew England from the Catholic Church during the 16th Century - and so Stephen's tomb was destroyed. Some of Stephen's bones were thrown in the local creek, before being fished out and placed in an annex on the side of the church of St Mary of Charity if Faversham, although this has never been proven. The bottom of a creek is not exactly renowned as a royal resting place, is it?
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
