WESTMINSTER
Westminster Abbey was originally a Benedictine monastery in London. A major
English Gothic structure, it is a national shrine. In 1245 Henry III demolished
a Norman church and began a new eastern portion, inaugurating centuries of
development. The chapter house was built in 1250, the cloisters and main
monastic buildings in the 14th cent. The nave was completed in the 16th cent.,
as was Henry VIII's Lady Chapel with its noted fan vaulting. Christopher Wren
and Nicholas Hawksmoor built (1722-40) the western towers. French influence is
seen in the nave, the highest in England, and in the flying buttresses. Almost
all English monarchs since William I have been crowned in the Abbey, and noted
English subjects are buried there, e.g., Chaucer and Robert Browning in the
Poets' Corner.
Historical Background
Westminster Abbey in
London the most famous church in Great Britain The kings and queens of England
are crowned there, and many rulers and famous men of Britain are buried there.
The church is built in the shape of a cross, in the style of architecture
called Gothic. There are a number of chapels in Westminster Abbey, of which the
most notable is the Chapel of Henry VII. There are nearly 100 statuettes in the
Chapel of Henry VII, and in it are buried Mary Queen of Scots, William and
Mary, Queen Elizabeth 1, and other kings, queens, and members of the royal family.
The Poet's Corner contains the tombs of Chaucer, Spenser, Browning, Tennyson,
and many other famous writers and poets. The first church on the site of
Westminster Abbey was built in 616, but the present building was begun over
seven hundred years ago. Further building was done over several hundred years.
The building of two of the Abbey's towers was begun in 1732. Westminster Abbey
was hit by bombs during World War 11, but it was not seriously damaged and the
damage has been repaired. A Brief History -and Introduction to Westminster
Abbey
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral Church of Westminster,
which is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, was
designed in the Early Christian Byzantine style by the Victorian architect John
Francis Bentley.
HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest tube and
train station is Victoria, in addition the 11 and 24 bus lines stop immediately
in front of the Cathedral Piazza, on
Victoria Street.The front entrance to the Cathedral is off the Piazza. Access
is from Victoria Street, Ashley Place, or Ambrosden Avenue. The entrance to
Clergy House is on Francis Street.
GIFT SHOP
The Cathedral shop
is open as follows:Monday to Friday - 9.30am - 5.15 pm,Saturday and Sunday -
10am - 4.45pm
TOWER LIFT
The Campanile Bell
Tower is 273 feet in height and from a four-sided viewing gallery it is
possible to see much of London.The lift is open as follows:
April to November -
9am to 5pm (daily)December to March - 9am to 5pm (Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
Sunday)
INFORMATION
DESK The Information Desk is located at the
back of the nave and is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
DISABLED VISITORS There is disabled access, and wheelchairs are also available. A loop system is installed - hearing aids should be turned to the 'T' setting.
CAR AND
COACH PARKING
There are meters for
cars in the streets behind the Cathedral and a multi-storey car park in
Rochester Row. Car parking is free on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
Short-term coach parking (up to 2 hours) is on Victoria Embankment, Park Lane,
Tothill Street and Marsham Street.
