Westminster Abbey is one of the great landmarks of the city of London. Discover it through these curious facts that will not leave you indifferent.
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| Westminster Abbey |
It's no secret that Westminster Abbey is a landmark of the City of London. What's more, its history dates back several centuries. One of the issues that attracts the most attention is, without a doubt, its spectacular Gothic structure dating from the year 1066.
Of course, it should be noted that it has undergone various changes during the first years. After all, it is the most perfect moment to do a little review of those curious or even interesting facts about Westminster Abbey that, on its own merits, came to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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| Westminster Abbey |
Is Westminster really an Abbey?
Although its name is like that, the truth is that it is not an Abbey. The church, yes, is part of the well-known group of "Royal Peculiars". Therefore, it does not belong as such to the Church of England, but to the monarchy of this country. The official name of this building is the Collegiate Church of San Pedro de Westminster.
There are the tombs of various famous people
Westminster Abbey is the resting place of more than 3,500 famous people, including Stephen Hawking and Isaac Newton. As if that were not enough, the remains of several British monarchs, including their consorts, also rest. A clear example is found in Enrique VII and Isabel I. In this place is also the well-known Rincón de los Poetas and, in a nearby corner, the tomb of the unknown soldier where the unidentified remains of a combatant of the First World War rest.
The Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone)
Eduardo's Chair, better known as the Coronation Chair, is undoubtedly one of the great jewels that we can find in Westminster Abbey. King Edward I had this chair built to house the Stone of Destiny, which is a Scottish relic that was seized by England.
Walter Durham was the carpenter who was in charge of this work between the years 1297 and 1300. It should be noted that since 1308, the chair has held a position of honor during the various coronations of the English monarchs. In spite of everything, the famous stone is no longer in that place since various Scotsmen entered the Abbey in 1950. In this fact, they broke it into two parts. Yes he returned to England, but in 1996 it was decided to return to Scotland. Currently we can find it in Edinburgh Castle.
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| Westminster Abbey |
In this place you will find the oldest door in Great Britain
We are talking, of course, about the spectacular oak door that connects the Chapter House with the Abbey. It has recently been dated to the year 1050. It should be noted that the wood that was used for this door came from nothing more and nothing less than Hainault, which is currently an urbanization located northwest of the city of London.
Cromwell's "double death"
Oliver Cromwell is one of the best-known figures in the history of Great Britain, as he managed to dissolve the monarchy in 1649 after the execution of King Charles I. Thus ended the English civil war between parliamentarians and monarchists. The 'Commonwealth' was declared and Oliver came to be named 'Lord Protector' for which he ruled in England until his death in 1658.
The remains were interred in Westminster Abbey. Although his son succeeded him, it only lasted two years. Carlos II was restored as King of England and the monarchists decided to exhume Oliver Cromwell's body. What was the end? Carry out a posthumous execution for treason. The head was displayed in the Westminster Hall until it was knocked over by a storm. Later it passed into the hands of collectors until it was buried at Sidney Sussex College in the city of Cambridge.