All Star LanesApsley HouseBBC Broadcasting House TourBenjamin Franklin HouseBig Ben (The Elizabeth Tower)Blewcoat School Gift ShopBritish Airways London EyeBritish Optical Association MuseumChapter House - Westminster AbbeyChurchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms - Imperial War MuseumCity CruisesDr. Johnsons HouseFunland - NOW CLOSEDHamiltons GalleryHamleysHandel House MuseumHarry Potter Bus Tour of London LocationsHouse of Parliament Tour Houses of Parliament Public GalleriesInns of Court and City Yeomanry MuseumJewel TowerLondon Brass Rubbing CentreLondon Friday Night Skate (LFNS) and The Sunday StrollLondon Transport MuseumLondon's Death TrapMadame TussaudsMall GalleriesNational Portrait GalleryPrince Henry's Room and Samuel Pepys ExhibitionQueens Ice And Bowl Rainforest Cafe RHS GardensRIBA Architecture GalleryRoman BathRoyal Academy of ArtsSea Life - LondonSomerset HouseSpencer HouseSt. James's PalaceThe Courtauld Institute of Art and MuseumThe Fleming CollectionThe Guards MuseumThe Household Cavalry MuseumThe London Silver VaultsThe National GalleryThe Photographers' GalleryThe Queen's Gallery, Buckingham PalaceThe Royal Institution Faraday ExhibitionThe Royal Mews, Buckingham PalaceTussauds StardomeVertical Chill Ice Wall Wellington ArchWestminster AbbeyWestminster Cathedral
In the East Cloister is the 'incomparable' octagonal Chapter House, dating from the 1250s. It is one of the largest in England.
The monks met here every day for prayers and to read a chapter from the rule of St Benedict and discuss the day's work. The King's Great Council first assembled here in 1257. This was effectively the beginning of the English Parliament.
The House of Commons regularly used the room in the 14th century, before they transferred to the Palace of Westminster. After having been a repository for government records from the 1540s it was restored in Victorian times by Sir Gilbert Scott.
The room is lavishly adorned with sculpture, and wall paintings of the Apocalypse, with the Last Judgement painted on the east wall. It contains one of the finest medieval tile pavements in England. The windows incorporate Victorian stained glass and new post-war designs. An inscription underneath them recalls the work of the original masons 'In the handiwork of their craft is their prayer'.
In the vestibule of the Chapter House is the oldest door in Britain, dated to the 1050s.
No Comments Yet - Why not be the first to leave a comment
Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Chapter House - Westminster Abbey before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Chapter House - Westminster Abbey is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Chapter House - Westminster Abbey to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.
