' WESTMINISTER ABBEY '

 
HISTORY:
 
THE HISTORY OF THE ABBEY STARTS IN 1050, WHEN KING EDWARD
THE CONFESSOR DECIDED TO BUILD AN ABBEY...
ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS ORIGINAL NORMAN MONASTERY,
CONSECRATED IN 1065, SURVIVED...
THE ONLY REPRESENTATION  OF THIS ORIGINAL BUILDING IS SHOWN ON
THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY...
MOST OF THE PRESENT BUILDING DATES FROM 1245 TO 1272 WHEN
HENRY III DECIDED TO REBUILD THE ABBEY IN THE GOTHIC STYLE...
LARGE PART WERE LATER ADDED: THE CHAPEL OF HENRY VII WAS
ADDED BETWEEN 1503 - 1512, WHILE THE TWO WEST FRONT TOWERS
DATE FROM 1745 - THE YOUNGEST PART OF THE ABBY IS THE NORTH
ENTRANCE, COMPLETED IN THE 19TH CENTURY...
 
 
 
BURIEL GROUND:
 
THE ABBEY ALSO SERVES AS THE BURIAL GROUND FOR NUMEROUS
POLITICIANS, SOVEREIGNS AND ARTISTS...
THE ABBEY IS STUFFED WITH TOMBS, STATUES AND MONUMENTS...
MANY COFINS EVEN STAND UPRIGHT DUE TO LACK OF SPACE...
IN TOTAL APPROXIMATELY 3300 PEOPLE  ARE BURIED IN THE CHURCH
AND CLOISTERS...
SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS ARE CHARLES DARWIN, SIR ISAAC NEWTON
AND DAVID LIVINGSTONE...