Papers of D C Bell, FSA on royal interments

Notes and extracts relating to royal interments by Doyne Courtenay Bell, FSA (d. 1888). Five boxes, arranged chronologically by reign, Will. I-Will. IV, with some later papers. Non-royal rulers are included, e.g. Oliver Cromwell. The notes are taken from chronicles, other historical sources, public records and some visits to sites. They cover causes of death, descriptions of funerals, incidents and superstitions, monuments and effigies and the later history of the same, including reopening of tombs. Some printed and illustrative material is included (published reproductions of effigies, a few engravings and drawings, etc.). For the later reigns there are numerous extracts from public records conc. funeral expenses, processions and other ceremonies. Printed material includes The Commonwealth Mercury, 18-25 Nov. 1658 (funeral of Cromwell); Valentine Green, An Account of the Discovery of the Body of King John (in Worcester cathedral) (1797); a copy (partly uncut) of The Times, 24 Dec. 1861 (funeral of Prince Albert). A few letters to the compiler, c. 1868-79, are included.

Proc., 2nd ser., 12 (1887-9), 140,395.