Person    | Male  Born 7/2/1478  Died 6/7/1535

Sir Thomas More

Born Milk Street. In conflict with Henry VIII over religion he was imprisoned in the tower, found guilty of treason and beheaded on Tower Hill. Final words: "The King's good servant, but God's First." 

From his marriage in 1505 he lived in Bucklersbury in the City. In 1525 he moved from there to Chelsea. In 1529 he was made Lord Chancellor.

As a traitor, his head was displayed on a pike at London Bridge for a month. His daughter, Margaret, later rescued the severed head and it is believed to rest in the Roper Vault of St Dunstan's Church, Canterbury.  Alternatively it may be buried within the tomb erected for More in Chelsea Old Church. A third, unlikely, story is that John Donne's mother, Elizabeth, who was a great-niece of Thomas More, carried his head around with her.

A very good friend of Erasmus who often stayed with More in Chelsea.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Thomas More

Commemorated ati

Cheyne Walk heads - More and Erasmus

No inscription remains legible but we believe we've found the painting used a...

Read More

City of London School 0 - More

{On the statue's plinth:} More

Read More

Lindsey House

Lindsey House, built 1674 by Robert Bertie 3rd Earl of Lindsey, incorporates ...

Read More

Margaret Roper - Woolwich Town Hall

{On the stained-glass plaque:} Margaret, a pious & learned woman, the bel...

Read More

Show all 15

Other Subjects

Patrick Packingham

Patrick Packingham

Burnt at the stake in Uxbridge for his Protestant beliefs. Aged 23. He was charged with not doing deference to Romish ceremonies, and was condemned by Bishop Bonner, his cause not being heard.  T...

Person, Execution, Religion

2 memorials
Colonel Algernon Sidney

Colonel Algernon Sidney

Opponent of King Charles II.  Born Baynard's Castle.  Exiled in Rome.  Returned in 1677 and was implicated in the Rye House Plot.  Beheaded on Tower Hill.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration, Italy

1 memorial
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury

Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury

Born Bath, of royal blood, she survived the Wars of the Roses and was trusted by Henry VIII enough to be a governess to Mary, his daughter by Catherine of Aragon.  However when the king wanted a di...

Person, Execution

2 memorials
Sir Robert Hales

Sir Robert Hales

Born Kent.  Lord/Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitallers of England.  As Lord High Treasurer he was responsible for collecting the poll tax. Bad timing for him since the Peasants Revolted, stormed ...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Thomas Reeding

Thomas Reeding

Lay brother at London Charterhouse. Taken Taken to Newgate Prison, chained and left to starve to death.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial