Cosmati Pavement Covered Carpet 150 Years

But what is the story behind this unusual.

Cosmati pavement covered carpet 150 years.

Until this year the medieval pavement had been covered by rolls of carpet that caused damage to the stones rather than protecting them. The cosmati pavement at westminster abbey laid down in 1268 on the orders of henry iii was covered by a carpet for over 100 years. For most of the past 150 years it has been covered in thick layers of carpet intended to protect but in fact just adding to the dirt and staining. The great pavement in front of the altar is described in richard foster s patterns of thought.

It has recently been restored and the wonderful colours and riot of swirls and whirls has now been revealed. The cosmati pavement at westminster abbey laid down in 1268 on the orders of henry iii was covered by a carpet for over 100 years. It was only recently that it was re found and work has begun on restoration. It has recently been restored and the wonderful colours and riot of swirls and whirls has now been revealed.

It has recently been restored and the wonderful colours and riot of swirls and whirls has now been revealed. This year funding from the getty has enabled the mosaic to be stabilised the pavement to. That s how it remained revealed in part or on rare ceremonial occasions until 2008 when westminster. Concerned about its deteriorating condition church officials covered most of the cosmati pavement with carpet in the 1870s.

The complexity and subtlety of the design and workmanship can be seen nowhere else on this scale. Although cosmati pavements are usually associated with italy there are two important ones in westminster abbey in london. For many years the cosmati pavement constructed in the 13th century has been forgotten under a carpet. Cosmati pavement the great pavement in front of the high altar of westminster abbey is a unique and remarkable object.

Even when the queen was crowned above it in 1953.