Home > Reginald Bray

Sir Reginald was born in Worcester in around 1440 and educated at the Royal Grammar School Worcester. He was created a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Henry VII, and, later, a Knight of the Garter. He also became Treasurer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1496 he was created Steward of the University of Oxford and became Speaker of the House of Commons.

As well as designing Henry VII's Chapel at Westminster, he also designed St George's Chapel in Windsor CastleWindsor Castle is (along with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh) one of the principal official residences of the British monarch, who always stays there at Easter and during "Royal Ascot" week (in June) at the nearby Ascot Racec and Great Malvern PrioryMalvern Priory is located in the town of Great Malvern in Worcestershire, England. The priory church, which survives as the town's parish church, is mostly Norman in design, with a great square central tower (redesigned in Perpendicular style by Sir Regin. At St George's Chapel, the vault is carved in various places with the insignia of hemp bray as a pun on Sir Reginald's name and to signify his support and design of the chapel.

He also took a major role in the construction of Jesus collegeJesus College at the University of Cambridge was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely. Its name is 'The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund in CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is the second-oldest academic institution in the English-speaking world (after Oxford). According to legend, the University was founded in 1209 by scholars escaping Oxford after a fight with locals. Cambridge and the University and was friends with its founder, John AlcockJohn Alcock (c. 1430 October 1, 1500), was an English churchman. He was born at Beverley in Yorkshire and educated at Cambridge. In 1461 he was made dean of Westminster, and his subsequent promotion was rapid in both church and state. In the following yea.

He died in 1503 and is buried in St George's Chapel Windsor.