Two beds ….. one Cathedral ..... and tales of high politics and deep deception

I knew I was going to enjoy the exhibition …. A Royal Tudor Bed and a Northern Rogue which opened yesterday in Manchester Cathedral and runs through into August.*

Ian Coulson  and the Royal Tudor Bed, 2024

It is the story of the wedding bed of Henry V11 and Elizabeth of York made in 1485 after the battle of Bosworth.

The bed is a masterpiece in rich ornamental decoration which delivers a mix of messages related to the change of power, the promise of peace and stability after a fractious period of conflict and all wrapped up with plenty of symbols of fertility to reinforce the political statement that the couple would have children to cement the the Tudor Dynasty.

And it is the bed that was gifted to Sir Nicholas Mosley, he of Hough End Hall here in Chorlton which remained in the family’s possession for centuries, and even in the 1930s nearly made it  back to south Manchester.

Dr Peter Lindfield, 2024

But the exhibition is also about George Shaw of Uppermill, the Northern Rogue of the title who made Tudor replica beds to order, but missed out the vital bit that they were replicas.

The 1485 bed, 2024

His story is equally fascinating, and Dr Peter Lindfield and Ian Coulson took an invited audience through the history of both the Tudor royal bed and Mr. Shaw’s less that accurate copies.

On hand was the original 1485/6 bed with a Shaw recreation.

The talk was informative, lively and the interaction between the two speakers underlined both their deep knowledge and interest in the story.

So that is it.

The exhibition remains in the Cathedral till August 11th and then Chetham’s until August 15th.

Added to which there is an excellent set of notes to accompany the two beds and that “Northern Rogue”

One of Mr. Shaw's copy beds the Henricus VII Rex bed, c.1842

Leaving me just that personal note that despite the signs “Please do not touch”, Ian Coulson gave me permission to run my hand over the carving of his Tudor bed, and not for the first time I reflected on the power of touch to deliver the excitement of a bit of history. 

Location; Manchester Cathedral

Pictures, from the exhibition …. A Royal Tudor Bed and a Northern Rogue, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*A Royal Tudor Bed and a Northern Rogue ……. the exhibition at the Cathedral ….. starting today, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2024/07/a-royal-tudor-bed-and-northern-rogue.html