Medieval paintings found at Christ's College, Cambridge by builders

The artworks were found during restoration work at Christ's College

Medieval wall paintings hidden for almost 300 years have been uncovered by builders working in a roof space at a Cambridge University college.

The artworks were found during restoration work at Christ's College.

The paintings celebrated the royal patron of Christ's College during the early 16th Century.

Cambridge University art historian Dr Christina Faraday said: "This is a really exciting and unusual discovery."

The three crowned motifs, depicting a red Lancastrian rose, portcullis and a probable fleur-de-lis, were found in First Court, which dates back to the 15th Century.

The paintings are thought to be from the early 16th Century.

The college was first established as God's House in 1437 before moving to its present site in 1448. It was re-founded as Christ's College in 1505 by Henry VII's mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort.

The portcullis was the badge of the Beaufort family.

The 20ft (6m) wide design - partially obscured by a wooden joist - is located in the roof space of what probably formed the north-west wall of the original library

Dr Faraday, who specialises in Tudor visual and material culture, said the works revealed "the ways that the college celebrated and advertised its royal patron during the early years of the 16th Century, following its re-founding".

"A powerful and pious woman, with a keen interest in scholarship, Lady Margaret left her indelible mark on the college," Dr Faraday said.

"The wall paintings are an early example of her family's savvy use of visual 'branding' even beyond the royal court.

"Henry VII had a very weak claim to the throne, but became adept at using visual symbols like this to promote his kingship.

"The motifs continue to be tied up with the college's identity to this day, but as an early example of Tudor 'marketing', the wall paintings demonstrate the long history of something we think of as a modern phenomenon.

"Such survivals are extremely unusual."

The 20ft (6m) wide design - partially obscured by a wooden joist - is located in the roof space of what probably formed the north-west wall of the original library.

It is painted on to a fine plaster layer with evidence of limewash applied around the designs.

The last known recorded sighting of the wall paintings was around 1738

After the discovery was made, the college delved into its archives and found that the last known recorded sighting of the wall paintings was around 1738.

The covered location in the roof space has enabled the paintings to survive in good condition, but means they will not be on general view.

The college's master, Lord Simon McDonald, said: "It was a surprise when these wall paintings, which have been hidden for almost 300 years, were revealed.

"I am privileged to be one of the few people to see them up close.

"After basic restoration, we will store the paintings away once again, a time-capsule which might be uncovered in another 300 years."