Richard Harweden

Richard Harweden (or Harounden) was Abbot of Westminster from 1420 until his resignation in 1440. He 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 was traditionally said to be at the foot of the stairs in the south ambulatory which now lead up to Henry VII's chapel.  Early tomb lists, however, place him in the old Lady Chapel (demolished when Henry VII built the current Lady Chapel) outside the south door there.

Dean Stanley in the late 19th century inserted a floor stone for him in the chapel of St John the Baptist where previous abbots had been buried but with no evidence for his reburial there. This is his only memorial.

The head of a wooden crozier from his period is now on display in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at the Abbey.