Westminster Abbey - Highlights and Facts and Hidden London

Coronations and Royal Tombs
From 1066, all English and British monarchs except (Edward V, and Edward VIII, - not crowned) have been crowned in the Abbey.
Most Kings and Queens of England were buried here, (although Henry VIII is buried with his third wife, Jane Seymour, at Windsor Castle. Charles I is also buried at Windsor Castle as are all monarchs and royals after George II.).

King George VI
On the day that had originally been chosen for the coronation of Edward VIII, (before he abdicated), the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was held in Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937. Queen Mary (his Mother) and his daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, watched from the royal gallery. The story of this modest king is told in the film "The Kings Speech."

Henry VII's Chapel
Built by King Henry VII; the tomb and bronze effigies, of Henry and his wife lie near the altar. Henry's grand-daughters, the Queens Elizabeth and Mary Tudor, are buried nearby. All the Stuart Sovereigns with the exception of James II. are here, but their only memorials are the wax figures of Charles II., William and Mary, and Anne, in the Abbey Museum.

The Coronation Chair
This aged 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. It is placed near the High Altar for a Coronation.

Poets' Corner
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.

Royal Weddings
Westminster Abbey will hold its 16th royal wedding at 11:00am on April 29, 2011, when Prince William marries Miss Kate Middleton.
Kate asked to be referred to by her Christian name, "Catherine" during the wedding ceremony which 1,900 guests will attend.
Following tradition, Catherine's wedding ring will include a piece of Welsh gold and her bouquet will include a sprig of myrtle.

Tomb of Elizabeth I
The effigy of Elizabeth I depicts the Queen towards the end of her reign (1558-1603) with her crown and holding the orb and sceptre. Her half-sister, Queen Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII, is buried with her. On the base of the tomb are these moving words: "Partners both in throne and grave, here rest we two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, in the hope of the Resurrection".

Queen Catherine de Valois
Henry V's wife, died in 1437 and was buried in the Abbey. In Henry VII's reign her coffin was found decayed and her body was put in a wooden box, where it was left open to the curious gaze, for 200 years.
Westminster School boys stole bits of her skin and bone and Pepys recorded in his diary that in 1669, when she had been dead 200 years, he had kissed Queen Catherine's lips.

Highlights and Facts - Westminster Abbey, London.

Coronation Chair

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.

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.

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.

Memorials in Poet's Corner

Memorials 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.

The Abbey Museum Highlights
The Museum is housed in the vaulted undercroft (one of the oldest areas of Westminster 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).

Hidden Gems and Westminster Abbey Secret Places and Highlights :

Cloisters and College Garden
Westminster Abbey's Cloisters and College Garden are a London hidden gem. Enter through Dean's Yard (south of Victoria Street); the entrance is free. The cloisters were the centre of monastic life, and the College Garden which is on the site of the Westminster Abbey's original infirmary garden was used to grow medicinal plants. The Cloisters are open from 8 - 6pm daily and the College Garden is open on Tuesday to Thursday (April to September from 10am - 6pm and October to March from 10am - 4pm).

Cosmati Pavement
Usually associated with Italy; a Cosmati pavement is to be found in Westminster Abbey in London. Very important in the history of England, the Great Pavement of Westminster Abbey was laid down in 1268 for Henry III, by Italian craftsmen.

Nearest tube (London Underground station) to Westminster Abbey: Westminster