Description of the attraction
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Westminster, better known as Westminster Abbey, is the traditional coronation and burial place of the kings of Great Britain.
Construction history
According to legend, the first church was founded on the spot 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 St. Peter's Abbey. 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.
The 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 cathedral status, 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 “rob Peter to pay Paul” appeared - 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 royal wedding venue, but only two reigning monarchs, Henry I and Richard II, were married here. More recently, at Westminster Abbey, Prince William the Duke of Cambridge married Catherine Middleton.
Westminster Abbey serves as the burial vault of 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 from the 13th century, the coronation throne of St. Edward and the frescoes of the cathedral, which date from the end of the 13th century.
On a note
- Location: 20 Deans Yard, London.
- Nearest tube stations: "Westminster", "St. James's Park"
- Official website:
- Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Wednesday - from 9.30 to 19.00. Saturday - 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Sunday - only services for believers.
- Tickets: adults - £ 16, for students and persons over 60 - £ 13, for children 11-18 - £ 6, children under 11, wheelchair users and their accompanying persons - is free. The entrance to the museum, garden and church of St. Margaret is free.
