The Chapter House and Pyx Chamber, Westminster Abbey


Book Description

This text examines the Chapter House and Pyx Chamber, in the Great Cloister of Westminster Abbey, which formed part of the medieval Benedictine monastery. Both Chapter House and Pyx Chamber are now in the care of English Heritage.




Westminster Abbey


Book Description

Westminster Abbey is the most complex church in the world in terms of its history, functions and memories - perhaps the most complex building of any kind. It has been an abbey and a cathedral and is now a collegiate church and a royal peculiar. It is the coronation church, a royal mausoleum, a Valhalla for the tombs of the great, a 'national cathedral' and the 'Tomb of the Unknown Warrior'. This new edition recounts the story of this iconic building and the role it plays in our national psyche.




Treasures of Westminster Abbey


Book Description

- New edition of this exploration of one of Britain's greatest buildings - A comprehensive, beautifully illustrated survey of Westminster Abbey's art treasures Westminster Abbey has a history stretching back over a thousand years. Founded as a Benedictine monastery in the mid-tenth century, it is the coronation church where monarchs have been crowned amid great splendor since 1066. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is a treasure house of architectural and artistic achievement on which each succeeding century has left its mark. The medieval and Renaissance tombs within the Abbey, though among the most important in Europe, form only a small part of the extraordinary collection of gravestones, memorials and monumental sculpture for which it has long been famous. Ranging from the thirteenth-century shrine of St Edward and the Renaissance splendor of Henry VII's Lady Chapel, to the literary memorials of Poets' Corner and the statues of twentieth-century martyrs on the Abbey's west front, this book describes the stained glass, furniture, sculpture, textiles, wall paintings and many other historic artefacts found within this remarkable church. Contents: Introduction; Edward the Confessor's Chapel; Sacrarium and High Altar; Quire and Crossing; North Transept and Ambulatory; South Ambulatory and Transept; Nave; Lady Chapel; Cloisters; Abbey Precincts.







Westminster Abbey Chapter House


Book Description

This volume tells the complete story of the Westminster Abbey Chapter House, which ranks as one of the spectacular achievements of European Gothic art & architecture as its builder, King Henry III, intended. Begun in the mid-1240s, & completed within a decade, its pre-eminence was recognized in its own day.




The Story of Westminster Abbey


Book Description

In "The Story of Westminster Abbey" by Violet Brooke-Hunt, readers are taken on a captivating journey through the historical and architectural significance of one of Britain's most iconic landmarks. Brooke-Hunt's detailed descriptions and meticulous research provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the abbey's role in shaping British history and culture. The book's rich literary style immerses readers in the grandeur and beauty of Westminster Abbey, making it a must-read for history enthusiasts and architecture aficionados alike. Violet Brooke-Hunt, a renowned historian and expert in British architecture, brings her expertise and passion for the subject to this book. Her in-depth knowledge and meticulous attention to detail are evident throughout the narrative, offering readers a compelling and insightful exploration of Westminster Abbey's past and present. Brooke-Hunt's scholarly approach and engaging writing style make this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about this historic site. I highly recommend "The Story of Westminster Abbey" to readers who appreciate well-researched historical narratives and insightful analyses of architectural landmarks. Violet Brooke-Hunt's expertise and passion for the subject shine through in this book, making it a fascinating and informative read for history buffs and architectural enthusiasts.







Westminster Abbey


Book Description

A comprehensive and authoritative history that explores the significance of one of the most famous buildings and institutions in England Westminster Abbey was one of the most powerful churches in Catholic Christendom before transforming into a Protestant icon of British national and imperial identity. Celebrating the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the current Abbey church building, this book features engaging essays by a group of distinguished scholars that focus on different, yet often overlapping, aspects of the Abbey's history: its architecture and monuments; its Catholic monks and Protestant clergy; its place in religious and political revolutions; its relationship to the monarchy and royal court; its estates and educational endeavours; its congregations; and its tourists. Clearly written and wide-ranging in scope, this generously illustrated volume is a fascinating exploration of Westminster Abbey's thousand-year history and its meaning, significance, and impact within society both in Britain and beyond.




STEALING FROM THE SARACENS


Book Description