Richard de Berkyng

Richard de Berkyng (or Barking) was Abbot of Westminster from 1222 to his death on 23rd November 1246.

He was first buried in the old Lady Chapel (built by Henry III) in Westminster Abbey but when that was demolished to make way for Henry VII's chapel his body was said to have been moved to the north ambulatory. So he has no monument or gravestone.

He became Prior at Westminster in 1219 but all that is known of his family is that his mother was Lucy, his siblings were Robert and Alice and he had a nephew Philip. Berkyng held several high State offices and was a great favourite of Henry III.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004 (under Barking)