Westminster Abbey description and photos - Great Britain: London (Topic)

Westminster Abbey description and photos - UK: London. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Westminster Abbey.

Photo and description

The Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Westminster, better known as Westminster Abbey, is the traditional place of coronation and burial of the kings of Great Britain.

History of construction

According to legend, the first church was founded on the place where a fisherman had a vision of St. Peter. Since then, the abbey has received a donation of salmon every year from the Anglers Guild of London. In 960-970. Saint Dunstan, with the support of King Edgar, founds a Benedictine monastery on this site.

Between 1042 and 1052, Edward the Confessor began the reconstruction of the Abbey of Saint Peter, as a church was needed to serve as a royal burial vault. The cathedral was consecrated on December 28, 1065, just a week before Edward's death. He was buried in the cathedral, and nine years later his wife Edita was buried next to him. His successor, Harold II, was probably crowned in the same cathedral, although only the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066 has been recorded. The only depiction of the cathedral at that time is a tapestry from Bayeux.

Construction of the temple in its present form began in 1245 under Henry III, who decided to honor the memory of Edward the Confessor with the highest Gothic nave in England, and at the same time chose the cathedral as his tomb. Construction continued for another three hundred years. The abbey had great political and economic influence, second only to Glastonbury in terms of income. Henry VIII granted the abbey the status of a cathedral, and this saved Westminster from destruction and ruin. The cathedral had the status of a cathedral only until 1550, and, apparently, it was at this time in England that the saying appeared "rob Peter to pay Paul" - the money intended for Westminster Abbey went to the treasury of St. Paul in London.

The two western towers were added to the cathedral in 1722 - 1745, and are a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture.

The main temple of the British kingdom

In addition to coronations, Westminster Abbey is a traditional place for royal weddings, but only two reigning monarchs, Henry I and Richard II, were married here. Most recently, in Westminster Abbey, Prince William Duke of Cambridge married Catherine Middleton.

Westminster Abbey serves as a burial place for many famous people in Britain. Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin are buried here, in the Poet's Corner - Geoffrey Chaucer, Robert Burns, Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, John Keats, the Bronte sisters and many others.

In the interior of the cathedral, attention is drawn to the mosaic floors by Cosmati of the 13th century, the coronation throne of St. Edward and frescoes of the cathedral, which date from the end of the XIII century.

Tips

• Location: 20 Deans Yard, London.
• Nearest metro stations: "Westminster", "St. James's Park"
• Official site: http://www.westminster-abbey.org
• Clock work: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - from 9.30 to 16.30. Wednesday - from 9.30 to 19.00. Saturday - 9.30 am to 2.30 pm. Sunday - worship services only.
• Tickets: Adults - ? 16, for students and persons over 60 years old - ? 13, for children 11-18 years old - ? 6, children under 11 years old, wheelchair users and their accompanying persons - free of charge. The entrance to the museum, garden and church of St. Margaret is free.

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Topic: Westminster Abbey description and photos - Great Britain: London.