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.

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 14

Other Subjects

Humphrey Middlemore

Humphrey Middlemore

Monk at London Charterhouse.  Executed at Tyburn.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
King Charles I

King Charles I

Born Fife. Until the age of 11 he was only the 'spare' but then his 18-year old brother Henry died (probably of typhoid) and Charles became the heir, ascending the throne in 1625 on the death of hi...

Person, Execution, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Scotland

12 memorials
Ralph Jackson

Ralph Jackson

Burnt at the stake in Bow (or possibly Stratford) for his Protestant beliefs.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson

Monk at London Charterhouse. Taken to Newgate Prison, chained and left to starve to death though there may have been a change of plan which meant he was fed for a while.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Henry Courtenay, Earl of Devon

Henry Courtenay, Earl of Devon

Grandson of King Edward IV. 1st Marquess of Exeter.  Accused of Catholic loyalties when this was not in favour.  Executed by decapitation with a sword on Tower Hill.  We have taken his dates from t...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial