Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is an outstanding, historic, architectural masterpiece and it is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.  It embodies much of the unique history of Britain- the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the nation's most famous citizens. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for many other royal occasions and events. A burial place of kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, musicians. aristocrats, admirals and politicians, it contains around 600 monuments, statues and wall tablets. Diana, Princess of Wales was buried here in 1997. From The Coronations in 1066 of both King Harold and William the Conqueror, all English and British monarchs except (Edward V, and Edward VIII, who did not have coronations) have been crowned in the Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the traditional cleric in the coronation ceremony. Most Kings and Queens of England were buried here, (although Henry VIII chose to be buried with his third wife and mother of his only son, Jane Seymour, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Charles I is also buried at Windsor Castle as are all monarchs and royals after George II.) . The shrine of Edward the Confessor still attracts many pilgrims and is still considered to be the most sacred part of the Abbey while the side chapels are where many aristocrats lie in their remarkable tombs. Monks and others associated with the Abbey are buried in the Cloisters - Geoffrey Chaucer, was buried here as he had apartments in the Abbey where he was employed as master of the Kings Works. Other literary figures buried ( or who have monuments) around Chaucer in what became known as Poets' Corner, include;  Ben Johnson, who is buried standing upright; William Shakespeare, John Keats, Oscar Wilde and John Milton and many others have only monuments. Abbey musicians such as Henry Purcell were also buried in their place of work. Parts of the Norman monastery are still to be found  in the supporting columns of the Undercroft in the Cloisters. This now houses the Abbey Museum. Admission fee charged - free to attend a service of worship. Nearest Tube / London Underground Station/s: Westminster, St. James's Park.

St. Edwards Chair

King Edward's Chair or The Coronation Chair is the throne on which the British monarchs are crowned. All British sovereigns since 1308 have used this ancient seat at the moment of their coronation, with the exception of Queen Mary I who refused to use the Chair and was crowned on a chair provided by the Pope. The very plain, aged high backed chair was carved from oak and was probably once richly gilded but over its long existence it has fallen foul of early graffiti artists-pilgrims and Westminster schoolboys in the 17th and 18th centuries, who carved their initials and other etchings on the chair. One Westminster pupil even claimed to have spent the night sleeping on it. Today it only leaves its highly protected place in the Abbey when it is placed near the High Alter for the Coronation Ceremony. Under the seat of the chair is a platform and cavity which until 1996 contained the Stone of Scone, the Stone used by Scottish Kings at their Coronation; this has now been returned to Scotland although it will be returned to the Abbey and be replaced in the chair on the occasion of the next coronation. Over the eight centuries of its existence, the Coronation Chair has only been removed twice from Westminster Abbey. The first time was for the ceremony in Westminster Hall when Oliver Cromwell was inducted as Lord Protector of England, and the second during World War II when it was evacuated to Gloucester Cathedral for safekeeping. To see details of other London historic churches - please visit: London Churches   Places near to Westminster Abbey: Houses of Parliament Banqueting House Trafalgar Square

Abbey facts and features

The Lady Chapel features: a superb fan-vaulted roof  and walls lined with statues of saints. the tomb of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York lies behind the altar - James I is also buried in this vault  the north aisle - the tomb of Elizabeth I and her half-sister Mary I. the south aisle -  monuments to Mary, Queen of Scots and Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. the vault where King Charles II, William III and Mary II and Queen Anne all lie.   Tomb of Elizabeth I The effigy of Elizabeth I st depicts the Queen towards the end of her long reign (1558-1603) complete with her crown and holding the orb and sceptre  Her half-sister, Queen Mary Tudor, (1516-1558), daughter of Henry VIII by Catherine of Aragon, is also buried with her. On the base of the tomb and monument are these moving words: "Partners both in throne and grave, here rest we two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, in the hope of the Resurrection".   Poets' Corner Buried here include: John Dryden, Tennyson, Robert Browning, John Masefield, William Camden, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Rudyard Kipling Thomas Hardy.    Memorials here include: John Milton, William Wordsworth, Thomas Gray, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Burns, William Blake, T.S. Eliot and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Samuel Butler, Jane Austen, Oliver Goldsmith, Sir Walter Scott, John Ruskin, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, Henry James, Sir John Betjeman.

Westminster Abbey Museum

The Abbey Museum is housed in the vaulted undercroft (one of the oldest areas of the Abbey) and the star features of the exhibition is the Abbey's collection of royal and other funeral effigies. The effigies on display here are far older than any found among the wax figures and exhibits at Madame Tussards in London. The effigies of these kings, queens and Lord Nelson were made using their death masks and their own clothes. Effigies include: Edward III, Henry VII and his queen, Elizabeth I, Charles II, William III, Mary II and Queen Anne,  Horatio, Viscount Nelson . Other items include:  the funeral saddle, helm and shield of Henry V, medieval glass, fragments of 12th century sculpture, Mary II's coronation chair and replicas of the coronation regalia.  A late 13th century Westminster Retable, England's oldest altarpiece - a panel shows the figure of St Peter, the patron saint of the Abbey A unique corset dating from 1603 was found on Elizabeth I's effigy figure and is now on display Also displayed here is the legendary "Essex Ring" that the Queen is said to have given to one of her favourites, the Earl of Essex.  Museum opening times: daily from 10.30 to 16.00 (may be closed for State and other special events).