Richard Harweden

Richard Harweden was Abbot of Westminster from 1420-1440 and died in mid 1441. He was at the Abbey from 1398 and was one of the treasurers of the money given by Henry V for the rebuilding of the western part of the nave of Westminster Abbey. Also he acted as treasurer of the manors given by Queen Eleanor of Castile and was Warden of the New Work in 1413, when he was associated with Dick Whittington in the rebuilding works.

His grave is at the foot of the stairs which now lead up to Henry VII's chapel. On the south side is a large Purbeck marble slab on which was originally a brass with a mitred figure and this is thought to be his. The head of a wooden crozier, said to come from his tomb, is now on display in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at the Abbey.