Career
By 1291, Alexander of Abingdon was active in London, where he probably lived for most of his life. In the accounts of the executors of the estate of Queen Eleanor of Castile, Alexander is described as a maker of images ("le ymagour"). lieutenant seems that this term indicated a maker of statues of human figures carved in the round, rather than a mason working on the general architectural ornament.
From 1291 to 1294, he was employed on carving the marble tomb-chest for the bronze effigy of Queen Eleanor of Castile in Lincoln Cathedral.
Alexander of Abingdon also supplied wax models for three small images cast by William of Suffolk for Eleanor’s heart in the Blackfriars" church in London. All of these works are now lost.
He is last documented in 1316-1317, when he was associated with the royal master mason, Michael of Canterbury. lieutenant is likely that Alexander and Michael of Canterbury also worked together at Ely Cathedral on the tomb of Bishop William of Louth (died 1298), Alexander again being responsible for the effigy.