12th century stained glass discovery at Canterbury Cathedral

Stained glass panels at Canterbury Cathedral, previously thought to be the work of Victorian restorers, have been found to date to the late 12^th century, making them the earliest known art works depicting pilgrims travelling to Canterbury.

Researchers have just made the exciting discovery at the beginning of a detailed study of the world-renowned Miracle Windows in the Trinity Chapel. An analysis of the panels, currently removed from the window and in the conservation studio for study, proved that they date back to the 1180s, within 20 years of Thomas Becket’s death and 200 years before Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales.

One of the panels shows pilgrims on foot, pilgrims on horseback and a disabled pilgrim on crutches on the road together. The incredible detail includes the bright green and yellow boots of the pilgrims, which were painted with horizontal stripes and a polka dot decoration. This highly elaborate footwear may have been meant to underline the importance of the pilgrimage.

Researcher Rachel Koopmans from Toronto’s York University said: “Our work was prompted by an early photograph of the window which showed these panels decades before they were thought to have been made. Careful analysis has proved that while most of the heads were replaced by a modern restorer, the majority of the glass is original and the panels are genuine medieval compositions. The date of the panels has been fixed by the distinctive aesthetic style of the glass, which is very similar to glass dated to 1180, as well as the date of the completion of the rebuilding of the chapel in which the window is found, 1182-1184.”

A second medieval panel, also thought to have been a Victorian restoration, depicts pilgrims arriving at Canterbury and queueing up to receive the blood and water relic, a much diluted mixture of Becket’s blood that pilgrims drank in the hope of miraculous healing.

Director of Canterbury’s Stained Glass Studio Leonie Seliger said: “This discovery is terrifically exciting. We are delighted to be able have this opportunity for close-up analysis of the panels which has provided us with fresh information such as being able to read the inscriptions which had previously been deemed illegible.”

Dr Koopmans is an associate professor of history and is writing a new catalogue of the glass relating to Thomas Becket in the Cathedral. The project is funded by the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and Dr Koopmans’ residence is supported by a Visiting Fellowship from the British Academy.

Once the panels have been further studied and analysed, they will be returned to the window.