Westminster Hall, a very royal destination with lots of history

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