Heritage centre unveils head of Simon of Sudbury ahead of public debate tonight

A new exhibit – the head of Simon of Sudbury, who was beheaded in the Peasants’ Revolt – has been unveiled at Sudbury Heritage Centre.

Donated by former mayor Tony Platt, the exhibit is actually a reconstruction of how Simon would have looked.

Simon was Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury until he was killed in 1381.

Heritage centre visitors can now see the victim of a medieval murder face to face, as the head is on show at the centre during town hall office hours, and on Saturdays from 10am to 12.30pm. Admission is free.

Museum trustee Val Herbert said: “The life-like reconstruction was made at Dundee University using scans of his semi-mummified skull, which is kept at St Gregory’s Church.

“It was intended for Canterbury Cathedral, where Simon’s body is buried, but the offer was not accepted.

“The bronze resin head is a twin of the original cast at St Gregory’s.”

Mr Platt, who officially presented the piece to museum trust chairman Peter Minter, said: “This seems to be the perfect place for it.”

The presentation ceremony was the forerunner to a debate in St Gregory’s Church tonight at 7pm.

It will focus on whether Simon was a victim of circumstances, or a villain, for imposing heavy taxation.

Mrs Herbert said: “That is how he was regarded by the mob who hacked off his head, which was later recovered and carried back to Sudbury.”