Medieval Gold Cloth Vestments

During demolition of the medieval cathedral, a chest containing vestments of Italian silk embroidered in gold was re-discovered in this site. The vestments were commissioned by Dean John Collyn in 1468, and almost certainly paid for by James Rice, one of Waterford’s leading citizens who served as mayor several mes. The vestments were hidden underground to protect them from Cromwellian forces during the siege of Waterford in 1650, and remained there for 123 years. Bishop Chenevix presented them to Waterford’s Roman Catholic bishop some me between 1797 and 1803. The robes have since been restored and are on display in the Medieval Museum.