THE CORONATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 6 October 1936, Page 10

THE CORONATION

RENOVATING THE ABBEY WATCH OVER JEWELS LONDON - , Aug. 26. The famous Jerusalem Chamber at, the •west end of Westminster Abbey is being cleaned and? renovated:, xu this chamber, on the eve of the Coronation, the regalia will be brought from the Tower of London. It will Ire watched over throughout the night by the Women. of the Guard. In this way, the ancient, right, of the Abbey to keep tlie*, regalia is maintained. It dates back to the time of Edward the Confessor, who was said to have, left Jiis crown and other ornaments to the Abbey for use at, future Coronations, and to have ordered that, they were, not, to be taken out, of .the clmrc-li. It is still the custom for the King to change his crown and-vestments in fit. Edward s Chapel bafore lie returns to tlio palace. On the morning of the Coronation, the royal orriirncitts are carried in solemn procession, bv me*fibers of the Chapter Of "Westminster, fed by the Dean, from Avit6.«6fiamb&r to a large annexe, which .."3fcttsro.porarily erected at the west end of the Abbey. This annexe really repre-"-cents', the ancient Palace of Westminster. it the Coronation procession ns- “■ wimbles, and' those appointed to carry . . 7.lXie" items of the, regalia receive them Trfim the Dean. In ancient times, all this was done m Westminster Hall, and the procession

_____ ♦ moved to tlie church along a raised platform. The annexe .is erected in Gothic style, and when .Edward VII was crowned, statues of previous Edwards stood in niches in its wails. As soon as the King arrives, the procession begins its journey into the church. His Majesty takes his place immediately behind the three bishops, who carry 1 lie Paten, Chalice, and Bible. lie is supported on either hand by the Bishops of Durham, and Hath, and" Wells, who have enjoyed.tins honour from time immemorial. Jerusalem. Chamber was Imill. by Abbot Lit.tlington, in the 14th century, and in it King Henry TV died in 1415. It no.w serves as the Abbey Chapter House, as the. Chapter Home proper has long been under the card of the office of works. In its north windows are several panels of loth century glass, depicting scenes from the lives of tin* saints. They wore originally in the church. MEDALS! DESIGNED Discussions have roomily been held between Sir Robert Johnson, .Deputy Master of (lie, Royal Mini, and representatives of the medal-making industry on i the question of the production of medals to commemorate the Coronation. These have had two objects, firstly to decide what, medals shall lie produced by the Royal Mint, and, secondly, to ensure that the portraits of His Majesty on medals issued by the (.rude are worthy of the occasion. It has been agreed that there will be three classes of medals: (1) The official modal, the design of which will be registered, with both obverse and reverse designed by the Mint ; (2.) a medal in silver or bronze with the obverse designed by the Mint, arid the reverse left clear for municipal coats of

arms or other designs required; (3) medals on which both obverse and reverse arc designed by the individual medallist in each case. The Deputy Master of the Mint is cooperating with the Industrial Art Committee of the Federation of British Industries to ensure that portraits of the King reproduced on medals of this class are reasonably good likenesses, and a joint committee has been formed to which medallists can submit specimens for approval. The. Royal Mint will produce medals in gold and large medals in silver of a size greater than Ijin., and Hie medal trade will make all Iho small, silver medals and all medals in other' metals. The productions of the Royal | Mint will lie sold through the banks and one or two loading jewellers.