Westminster Hall, a very royal destination with lots of history

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In August 2023 we finally could see the Westminster Palace and especially the Westminster Hall. A place full of history. We booked a tour with a splendid guide called Ralph.


We were able to enter Westminster Hall and to take pictures there. In other parts of the Palace we were not allowed to take pictures. 


Our suprise was big because of course we recognized the Westminster Hall immediately due to the Lying-in-State of the Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which took place from September 14th. 2022 till September 19th. 2022 in Westminster Hall.However its history dates back from long ago. 



Some history

The oldest existing part of the Palace (Westminster Hall) dates from the reign of William I's successor, King William II (r. 1087–1100).



Source picture: Wikipedia


On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer's stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber. In the resulting conflagration both Houses of Parliament were destroyed, along with most of the other buildings in the palace complex.  Westminster Hall, however, was saved thanks to fire-fighting efforts and a change in the direction of the wind.

During the seccond World War, London was hit by the blitz for several times. The worst raid took place in the night of 10–11 May 1941, when the Palace took at least twelve hits and three people (two policemen and Resident Superintendent of the House of Lords Edward Elliott) were killed. An incendiary bomb hit the chamber of the House of Commons and set it on fire; another set the roof of Westminster Hall alight.





Some Important dates

In 1235 a banquet to honour the Archbishop of Cologne who was taking the King's sister to marry the Emperor Frederick II.

In 1237, the Treasurer was commanded to feed 6,000 poor people at Westminster in celebration of Queen Eleanor's coronation. 

In 1247, the poor were again fed in the Hall between Christmas and New Year's Day. No subsequent king provided charity on such a
large scale.

In 1260 to entertain the Scottish King and Queen, Alexander and Margaret

In 1269 to mark the placing of Edward the Confessor's remains in the new shrine in Westminster Abbey


Edward the Confessor at the 
Bayeux Tapestry
Source picture: Wikipedia


In 1306 upon the summoning of knights to fight Robert the Bruce in Scotland

In 1357 to mark the arrival of France's King John as a prisoner following the Battle of Poitiers

1394-1401: Richard II undertook major reconstruction of the Hall, including new roof


Richard II of England
Source picture: Wikipedia


In 1509 Coronation Banquet of King Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon. Tudor chronicler Edward Hall records 'nine-piece table'.

1533: Coronation Banquet of Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII watches his new queen from a window to the east of the dais.

1559: Coronation Banquet of Queen Elizabeth I.

1649-60: Commonwealth. King Charles I's trial and execution. King's High Table later broken up.






Lyings in state

Other Lyings in state in Westminster Hall were inter alia:

- Edward VII 
- George V,
- Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, more about her Lying in state on this link
- King George VI;
- Queen Mary;
- Winston Churchill
- Queen Elizabeth II more about her Lying in state on this Youtube link


As you can see on the pictures above, from the Lyings in state there are remembrance plates on the floor of Westminster Hall. 





These pictures of Westminster Hall were taken in August 2023 


Location: London, UK

Comments

Billy Blue Eyes said…
Now that is a place I have never been
September 15, 2023 at 10:38 PM
Kathleen Van Lierop said…
Thank you so much for commenting! It's really worth to pay a visit. We visited it together with the Westminster Palace tour.
September 16, 2023 at 5:36 PM
Vallypee said…
What an interesting post, Kathleen. I’ve never been to Westminster Palace. I’d definitely like to go now!
September 13, 2024 at 9:41 PM
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