The Importance of Sanctity in Henry's Life

The Abbey was built between 1245 and 1269 by Henry III at his expense, or in a way, at all our expenses. He simply used the revenues of the kingdom. Probably about two years annual revenue was the cost. But he also drives forward. And this is where we have these wonderful letters of Henry III, which all preserved on the chancey roll,. Which shows him driving forward the work but also very, very interested in the actual details of the design. So I think we've got to think of Henry and his master Mason very much conceiving the design of the Abbey together.