Bishop Bonner
Bonner Road and Bonner Street were named
after Bishop Edmund Bonner. It is strange that he should be
immortalised as he was not a person to admire. He was
much like the Vicar of Bray, changing his coat to suit
the times.
He was the son of Edmund Bonner, a sawyer of
Potter's Henley in Worcestershire and Elizabeth Frodsham.
He was employed by Henry VIII as his agent at
Rome, where he remained for a year, 1532-33. He was translated to
the Bishopric of London and elected in November, 1539, and was
consecrated 4th April, 1540.
Under Henry VIII he had denounced
papal supremacy and when Mary became queen, fervent in
restoring it. He was as much responsible as anyone for
the burning at Smithfield over three years of 200
'heretics'.
Queen Elizabeth I would not allow
him to kiss her hand when she acceded in 1558. He died
ten years later whilst in prison at Marshalsea and he was said to have
been buried in St. George's churchyard, Southwark, but the coffin
secretly removed to Copford, near Colchester, where it was buried under
the north side of the altar.
Bonner's ghost is said to be seen riding in a black coach,
driving three times around Bonner's fields. It is said
that any person who sees this apparition will die.
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