Tiles from 13th century,inlaid with heraldic motifs and described as ‘ridiculously rare’, preserved in purpose-built display[br]One of the most spectacular medieval tiled floors in Europe, or buried and forgotten for centuries after the monks of Cleeve Abbey in Somerset built themselves an even smarter dining room in the 15th century,has gone on permanent public display under an oak shelter.
A 12x5 metre stretch survives of the floor, which was laid in approximately 1270 with hundreds of expensive encaustic tiles, and depicting elaborate heraldic designs including the coats of arms of Henry III and his wealthy and powerful brother Richard,first Earl of Cornwall (the king had given him Cornwall as a birthday present).
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Source: theguardian.com