Medieval queen ‘funded chapel after death of heir’ in Guildford

The death of a medieval heir to the English throne could have led to the construction of a now-ruined chapel.

St Catherine’s Chapel, which overlooked Guildford in Surrey, is thought to have been funded by dowager queen Eleanor of Provence, according to tour guide Hugh Anscombe.

He told Secret Surrey that the queen, married to Henry III, had come to the town with grandson Prince Henry, who was “unwell in London”. The six-year-old died there in 1274.

“It may be partly for that reason that his granny decided that this would be the right place for a wonderful chapel,” Anscombe said.