The Palace of Westminster is the tallest tower. The Palace of Westminster is the most luxurious palace in the world. Tour of the Palace of Westminster

Well, since we have already seen so many English castles

Then we can’t get past the Palace of Westminster. And its history began a very long time ago.

This building arose in 1840-1860 on the site of an old palace that burned down in 1834, which by that time was a combination of the most diverse buildings. However, during the fire, they managed to save, in addition to the badly damaged crypt under the chapel of St. Stephen, the architecturally most valuable part of the old palace is Westminster Hall. Fate turned out to be merciful to him for the second time: the hall survived during the devastating bombing of German aircraft in May 1941, when the adjacent hall of the House of Commons was destroyed.

For modern London, Westminster Hall is the best and most expressive monument of medieval secular architecture. Started in 1097, it was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century. Henry Yevel, a talented London mason, laid out the walls. The famous wooden floors were built with the participation of the royal carpenter Hugh Erland.

But let's get it right...

In 1215, eighteen barons, who were in opposition to royal power, forced the English king John Landless to sign the Magna Carta, which laid the foundation for the English constitution. A few years later, Baron Simon de Montfort, one of the leaders of the opposition, convened the first English Parliament. However, despite its ancient origins, Parliament did not have its own residence for a long time: meetings had to be held in the ancient Westminster Hall or share the Chapter Hall of Westminster Abbey with the monks. Only in 1547 did the English Parliament receive its permanent residence in the St. Stephen's Chapel of the old Palace of Westminster, which until the 16th century was the main residence of the English kings.

In the place of Westminster in ancient times there was an impenetrable swamp. However, the swamp was dried up, and a royal palace was erected in its place. The palace was close to the Thames, next to Westminster Abbey, a few miles from the City.

The first palace was built for King Edward the Confessor, who came to the throne in 1042. Forty-five years later, for William Rufus, son of William the Confessor, Westminster Hall was built - the most elegant hall in Europe, where a feast was held in 1099. In the 13th century, Henry III added a painted chamber, and during his reign the first parliament was convened (from the French verb "parler" - to speak).

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January 20, 1265 at the Palace of Westminster met the first English Parliament, convened by Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester. In order to give the established order the appearance of legality, Montfort put forward the initiative to create a council in which, along with the rest, the third estate would be represented. Collected on January 20, 1265, this council very quickly developed into a permanent body, called the Parliament.

To adapt the chapel for holding parliamentary sessions, it was completely built up with benches and galleries, which, of course, distorted its architectural appearance. In addition, the entrance to it passed through Westminster Hall, where the Supreme Court of England sat. However, despite a number of inconveniences, the House of Commons met in St. Stephen's Chapel until the fire of 1834, after which it again found itself without a permanent seat.

After the fire in the slightly damaged part of Westminster Hall Parliament still continued to temporarily sit, and the architect Smirke accepted the proposal to arrange two temporary rooms for their meetings on the ruins of the burnt chambers. The architect diligently set to work and usefully used all the parts that had survived from the fire. The former premises of the upper House of Lords were restored and given to the work of the House of Commons, and the Lords themselves received the restored Art Gallery for their meetings.

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But by the summer of 1835, a special commission decided to build a new Westminster Palace on the old site. According to legend, the choice of location was largely determined by security considerations: in the event of popular unrest, the Parliament building, located on the banks of the Thames, will not be surrounded by an indignant crowd. The palace was recommended to be built in the Gothic or Elizabethan style, that is, in the spirit of the secular architecture of England at the end of the 16th century.

97 projects were submitted to the competition, 91 of which were made in the Gothic style. Preference was given to the project of C. Barry, a young architect, but by that time the author of several well-known buildings. In addition to the main halls for the meetings of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, it was necessary to provide premises for the ceremonial ceremony of the annual opening of Parliament with the presence of the Queen, who opens its work. We needed separate voting rooms, corridors that would connect the central halls with libraries, canteens, as well as many other utility rooms. And Charles Barry was able to very logically arrange all this myriad of courtyards, rooms and corridors.

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In 1837, on the banks of the Thames, builders began to build terraces that pushed the river back, and three years later, C. Barry's wife laid the first stone in the foundation of the new Palace of Westminster.

To restore this masterpiece of architecture, a special commission was created, and soon a competition was announced for the development of the project, in which about a hundred people took part. As a result, ninety-seven options were considered, of which the project of Charles Barry (1795-1860) was recognized as the best. Restoration was entrusted to him, which he did in a magnificent Gothic style with the help of Augustus Pugin, who completed the picturesque ornamental work. St. Stephen's Chapel was renamed St. Stephen's Hall. It is a wide corridor lined with paintings, marble sculptures, and a lagoon marker where the speaker's chair used to be.

The preparatory work dragged on for 3 years - it took to build terraces on the banks of the Thames. Only in 1840 did work begin on the Parliament building itself. The construction of the palace was completed in 1888.

Currently, the building of the Palace of Westminster, which is now simply called the Parliament, is located in central London and is one of the largest buildings in the world. According to some, it is the main attraction of the English capital.

The Palace of Westminster stretches far along the banks of the Thames and covers an area of ​​more than three hectares. Despite its size, the Parliament building does not overwhelm with its immensity, but on the contrary, caresses the eye with the lightness and beauty of its majestic romantic forms, although it has elements of late Gothic and some asymmetry of the silhouette and individual details. Outside, it is crowned with innumerable small turrets, and its walls are decorated with lancet windows, lovely rosettes, and lacework of stone trimming of cornices and windows. The Parliament is especially beautiful in the evenings, when its towers and spiers, flooded with spotlights, stand out like a fantastic crown in the dark sky.

The main verticals of the Palace of Westminster are the Victoria Tower (its height is 104 meters), rising above the royal entrance to the Parliament, and the Big Ben clock tower, 98 meters high. The name of the main hour bell, weighing more than 13 tons, was named after Benjamin Hall, Minister of Public Works. The clock itself, which has four 9-meter dials, was arranged under the guidance of the famous astronomer Erie. When the clock strikes the time, all British radio stations broadcast them. The "Victoria Tower" forms the royal entrance to Parliament, and during parliamentary sessions, the British national flag is hoisted on it.

The opening of the work of parliamentary sessions is accompanied by solemn traditional ceremonies. The royal couple arrive in a gilded carriage drawn by eight cream-coloured horses. These horses descend in a straight line from those that William of Orange brought with him to England from Holland at the end of the 17th century.

The royal throne, upholstered in red velvet and adorned with gold and diamonds, stands on a special dais in the House of Lords under an inlaid Gothic canopy.

The success in the construction of the Palace of Westminster, the architect C. Barry, was largely due to cooperation with O. Pugin, an enthusiast and connoisseur of English Gothic. An excellent draftsman, passionately in love with the art of the Middle Ages, he also participated in the development of the details of the facades of the palace. It was thanks to the inventive imagination of O. Pugin that the facades of the Parliament and its towers were decorated with intricate stone carvings. O. Pugin worked especially hard on the interior design of the Palace of Westminster, although some researchers note that sometimes his sense of proportion changed somewhat. You will not find smooth ceilings and walls anywhere, everywhere there are carved panels, canopies, niches, bright mosaics, huge frescoes, the floors in many rooms are lined with yellow, blue and brown tiles. somewhat tiring, but in the 1840s they delighted the wealthy bourgeois public.

Of greatest interest in the Palace of Westminster is the interior of the House of Lords and the premises associated with it by parliamentary ceremonial: the Royal Gallery for ceremonial processions; the room in which the Queen is dressed for her solemn appearance in Parliament; waiting room for the exchange of views and making private decisions and others.
The ceiling of the House of Lords is completely covered with images of heraldic birds, animals, flowers, etc.; its walls are lined with carved wooden panels, above which are images of six frescoes. Eighteen bronze statues of the barons who secured Magna Carta from the king stand in niches between the windows, looking out over the inlaid canopy of the royal throne, the rows of benches covered in bright red leather, and the Lord Chancellor's famous "woolen sack". Centuries ago, this bag, covered with red cloth, was stuffed with wool, personifying the emblem of English industry. At present, the authentic "wool sack" has become a museum piece, but the tradition has remained: the chairman of the House of Lords, dressed in a black and gold robe and a lush white wig, opens the meeting, sitting on a soft red sofa without a back.

Adjacent to the House of Lords is an antechamber, furnished with the same sumptuous luxury as the hall of the Upper House itself. The northern doors from it lead to a corridor that ends at the octagonal Central Hall. There are statues of English kings in niches around the entire hall.

In the hall of the House of Commons there is not that stately pomp that is present in the hall of the House of Lords. This is not a very large room, finished in dark oak, and the dark green benches in it, running in parallel rows, leave only a small passage in the middle. Members of the lower house of parliament during their meetings can even sit in a hat, but the chairman (speaker) is always dressed solemnly: in an old black suit, stockings and shoes, and according to the old tradition, his head is covered with an indispensable wig.

The arrangement of the speaker's place is also associated with long traditions. His armchair, behind and on the sides surrounded by an iron lattice, stands in front of the front door. In former times this portcullis protected the President of the House of Commons from occasional attacks. During the reign of the Stuarts, the speakers were henchmen of the king, so they often complained about all sorts of incidents. For example, how some deputy “stood behind my chair and barked in my ear so much that I, like the other members of the chamber, was extremely frightened”; or how some “deputy came up and stuck out his tongue at me.”

The need for an iron lattice has long passed, but the builders of the new building did not dare to deviate from tradition.
In the hall of the House of Commons, in front of the speaker's chair, there is a large table on which lies a mace - a symbol of the speaker's power, and three secretaries in judicial robes and wigs sit at the table.

At the western end of the hall of the lower house of the English Parliament, several steps lead down to the vestibule, on the right side of which the entrance to Westminster Hall opens. It remains from that huge building, the foundation of which was laid in 1097 by William the Red, the son of William the Conqueror. Burnt in a fire in 1291, Westminster Hall was rebuilt in its present form in 1308.

Westminster Hall is a very large hall, its dimensions are 88x21x28 meters. Its ceiling does not rest on a single column, and there is no other such building. This ceiling was refurbished in 1820, for which timber was taken from old ships of the line.

Many historical events took place in Westminster Hall, perhaps only the Tower has seen more dramas than this hall. The first English Parliament met in it, and Kings Edward II and Richard II were deposed here; in it, Richard III received his captives - the Scottish king David II and the king of France, Jean the Good. In this hall, the utopian philosopher Thomas More heard his death sentence, King Charles II was tried here. At Westminster Hall, during the coronation of George IV, a knight rode on a horse, throwing down a glove to anyone who dares to challenge the crown of his king.

At Westminster Hall, through a small door, now sealed up, King Charles I appeared and demanded the extradition of five members of the opposition. This was the only time in the history of the English Parliament that the king entered the hall of the lower house. Here, later, Charles I himself was tried, and the crowd that filled the hall and looked out the windows shouted: “Execution! Execution! The king's death sentence was passed unanimously, and this document is still kept in the library of the House of Commons.

At Westminster Hall, Oliver Cromwell, in a purple and ermine robe, with a golden scepter in one hand and a Bible in the other, assumed the title of Lord Protector. And four years later, here, his head was put on a stake.

Both chambers are connected by a corridor to Westminster Hall, which is the central hall of the building and occupies the middle of the palace. The corridor itself serves as a kind of reception room, a place of communication between parliamentarians and the "outside world", so there is always a revival here and there are a lot of public and tourists.

Part of the Palace of Westminster, which houses the hall of the House of Commons, was destroyed during the Second World War, but the general Gothic character of its architecture was preserved during the restoration. Unfortunately, the details of decoration carved in stone and wood and many other items of decoration, which previously constituted a single style complex with the entire room, could not be repeated. Lighting spotlights of modern forms have further violated the artistic integrity of this hall.

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Another long tradition has been preserved in the English Parliament since the 17th century. In 1605, a group of conspirators dug under the building of the Palace of Westminster and laid gunpowder there in order to blow up all the deputies along with the king at the time of the solemn meeting. The plot was uncovered, and Guy Fawkes, who led the gunpowder plot, was executed along with his accomplices. But every year the guards, dressed in ancient costumes, with lanterns and halberds in their hands, search all the cellars and nooks and crannies of the palace. The lanterns of the guards are without candles, since the lower floors of the Parliament are well lit by electricity. It is known in advance that they will not find any barrels of gunpowder, especially since the new palace was built two and a half centuries after the “gunpowder plot”. But every year, on November 5, the guards, led by the bailiff of the chamber (“the bearer of the black rod”) go around the basement and check if there are any new intruders….

Westminster Hall covers an area of ​​1800 square meters. Its height is 28 meters. This is one of the most grandiose medieval halls known in the architecture of Western Europe, the wooden roof of which, moreover, is not supported by any supporting pillars. The span of the hall, 21 meters wide, is covered with carved oak open rafters, supported by a complex system of wooden brackets that are strongly extended forward. The shape of these overlaps is difficult to describe.

It is usually customary to compare them with the frames of ancient frigates, as if turned upside down. But this comparison by no means reveals the complexity of the design, high level the carpentry skills of the builders and the amazing artistic effect that they managed to achieve. Such a system of wooden floors, usually used in residential buildings and parish churches in England, was one of the peculiar achievements of English medieval architecture and nowhere else in Europe has it become so widespread and has not reached such a high artistic level as in this country.

In Westminster Hall, one is surprised by the integrity of the composition, the impeccability of proportions and lines of the carved pattern. Over the centuries, the wood of the floors has darkened, and now they seem to be immersed in a mysterious twilight. The space of the hall is filled with silvery-purple light pouring through the colored stained-glass windows of the gothic lancet windows. According to the British, in any weather it blows cold from the walls. Everything reminds of the antiquity of the hall, helps to revive the events that took place in it.

The Houses of Parliament is the most significant creation of the architect Barry. And although it caused the most controversial judgments and assessments, this did not prevent it from immediately becoming one of the city's attractions. Attention is drawn to the correctly found proportion of the main volumes of such a significant structure in its scale. When viewed from afar, the almost classical austerity and wide scope of its facades, and at the same time, the picturesqueness of its outlines as a whole, invariably impresses. The mighty, square in plan, Victoria Tower and the huge clock tower, asymmetrically located in the northern and southern parts of the palace, give it a unique identity. Together with a small tower with a spire, placed above the central hall, they not only decorate it, but also balance the huge length of the facades with their height.

The Victoria Tower, rising 104 meters in height, marks the royal entrance to Parliament. During the session, the British national flag is raised on it. The clock tower is 98 meters high. It has a clock mechanism, which is highly accurate. We can say that this is the "main clock" of the state. A huge bell "Big Ben" (Big Bon), specially cast for the tower, weighing 13.5 tons, strikes the clock. Big Ben's fight is constantly broadcast by English radio stations. The watch got its name from Benjamin Hall, one of the construction leaders. During the parliamentary session, with the onset of darkness, a searchlight is lit on the tower.

The British Empire erected for its parliament a building of rare splendor and size even according to the tastes of that time. Reference books give figures: 3.2 hectares of area, 3 kilometers of corridors, 1,100 rooms, 100 stairs. . . Of course, dry figures do not reveal the artistic merits or shortcomings of the palace, but to some extent they testify to the complex layout of the building, which affected the features of the parliamentary structure, the traditions that have long accompanied meetings, and the daily business life of the English parliament. In addition to the main halls of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it was necessary to provide premises designed for the ceremonial ceremony of the annual opening of Parliament with the presence of the Queen reading the throne speech. We needed special rooms for voting, kilometers of corridors that would connect the central halls with libraries, canteens, and various utility rooms. Barry managed to arrange all this myriad of rooms, corridors, courtyards in a very logical way.
The northern part of the building, overshadowed by the Victoria Tower, is occupied by the House of Lords and the premises associated with it by parliamentary ceremonial. These include: the magnificent Royal Gallery, designed for ceremonial processions; the room in which the Queen is dressed for her solemn appearance in Parliament; lobby, in literal translation from English - a waiting room, but in fact - the sidelines, a room for exchanging opinions, making private decisions. Characteristically, the same term in parliamentary jargon refers to a group of figures who, in their own interests, put pressure on deputies.

In the southern half of the palace, next to Big Ben, is the hall of the House of Commons. There is also the lobby of the House of Commons, voting rooms, the residence of the speaker.

Corridors connect these most important parts of the Palace of Westminster with the Central Hall, which occupies the middle of the building and serves as a kind of reception room, a place for members of Parliament to communicate with the “outside world”. This room is almost always lively. Deputies accept petitions from their constituents. Journalists, having learned the latest parliamentary news, immediately report it to their agencies from numerous telephone booths. There are a lot of people and tourists here.
From here, a corridor leads to St. Stephen, built on the site of a chapel destroyed by fire. The dais at the end of the hall offers the best view of the interior of Westminster Hall.

Barry, the builder of the Houses of Parliament, owed much of his success to his contemporaries to his collaboration with Augustus Pugin, a great connoisseur of Gothic architecture, a man fanatically in love with the art of the Middle Ages and its zealous propagandist. In addition, Pugin was an excellent draftsman. Research recent years show that many carefully and even gracefully executed architectural drawings of the Palace of Westminster belong to his hand.

Thanks to the inventive imagination of Pugin, the facades and towers of Barry were decorated with intricate stone carvings. Pugin's inspiration was the Henry VII Chapel, built in the late Gothic "perpendicular" style and located right there, just across the street from the new palace under construction. Pugin worked especially hard on interior design of the Houses of Parliament. However, here the sense of proportion often betrayed him. Nowhere you will find a calm surface of ceilings and walls. Everywhere - carved wooden panels, canopies, niches, bright mosaics, huge frescoes, colorful wallpapers. The floors of many rooms are lined with tiles - yellow, blue, brown. The fineness of the ornament, the overload of details, the variegation of colors - everything that delighted the wealthy bourgeois public of the 1840s, tires the eye of the modern viewer and only prevents one from sometimes noticing truly high craftsmanship.

Of greatest interest is the interior of the House of Lords. Decorative techniques found in the interior decoration of the entire palace reach their climax here. The ceiling is completely covered with images of heraldic birds, animals, flowers, etc. The walls are lined with carved wooden panels, above which there are six frescoes. Eighteen bronze statues of the barons who won Magna Carta from King John stand in the niches between the windows, looking out over the inlaid canopy of the royal throne, the rows of pews covered in bright red leather, the famous sofa of the Lord Chancellor.

This sofa recalls a long tradition: the Lord Chancellor used to sit in parliament on a wool sack, symbolizing the foundations of British trade and wealth. The original wool sack has now become a museum piece, but the tradition has remained: the chairman of the House of Lords, dressed in a black and gold robe, in a lush white wig, opens the meetings of the House sitting on a soft sofa.

And also, by tradition, at the north end of the House of Lords there is a bronze wrought-iron barrier, marking the place of the members of the House of Commons and the speaker who heads it, which they occupy during the opening of Parliament.

Part of the Palace of Westminster, which houses the House of Commons, was destroyed during the Second World War. During the restoration work, the general Gothic character of the architecture was preserved. But the decoration details carved in stone and wood, as well as many items of decoration that previously constituted a single stylistic complex with the entire room, were not repeated. The introduction of lighting spotlights of modern forms further violated the artistic integrity of the appearance of the hall. However, in its original form, the hall of the House of Commons was much more modest and businesslike than the hall of the House of Lords. Its walls were covered in dark oak panelling, and its pews were upholstered in green leather. This combination has been preserved to our time.

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sources
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world-art.ru

Westminster is one of the centers of political life in the United Kingdom and a household name for the British government system. The Palace of Westminster has been renamed the Houses of Parliament since 1970 and is part of world heritage UNESCO since 1987. One of the palace towers, often named after its main bell, Big Ben, is an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom as a whole, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, and an emblem of parliamentary democracy.

Modern appointment and management

The entire complex is the seat of the bicameral Parliament of Great Britain. The building is located on the north side of the Thames in Westminster, central London. The castle takes its name from the neighboring Westminster Abbey. The old medieval building was the residence and place of residence of the English kings. The Palace of Westminster has always belonged to the monarch by right of the crown and still retains its original status as a royal residence for ceremonial purposes. But the monarch does not appear here for long, and only on special occasions. The building is governed by committees from each parliamentary chamber, with reporting to the Lord Speaker.

old palace

The first royal castle has risen in this area since the 11th century and was the residence of sovereigns, until in 1512 a fire destroyed most of the complex. After that incident, Westminster serves as the meeting place of the English Parliament, which has sat there since the 13th century. Also the halls of the Palace of Westminster in London were used as the seat of the Royal Courts of Justice. The newly rebuilt premises were destroyed by the largest fire that hit the palace in 1834. Very few medieval buildings remained after that: Westminster Hall, dating from the construction of 1097; chapels of st. Stephen and St. Mary Undercroft, as well as the three-story Jewel Tower located separately.

New complex

In the competition held in 1836 for the reconstruction of the palace, preference was given to the architect Charles Barry. He proposed to create the appearance of a new building in the neo-Gothic style with a perpendicular configuration inherent in English buildings of the 14th-16th centuries. The remains of the old palace, with the exception of the Tower of Jewels, were organically incorporated into the new, much larger complex. It contains more than 1,100 rooms with a total area of ​​112,476 m 2 , located symmetrically around two rows of courtyards, and the facade on the Thames side reaches 300 meters. The authoritative Gothic architect Augustus Northmore Pugin collaborated with Charles Barry, who also designed the palace interior.

The construction of the Palace of Westminster of Great Britain began in 1840 and continued for 30 years with long delays and significant cost overruns. During construction, both leading architects died. Intermittent interior work also continued into the 20th century. After the Second World War, major repairs were carried out, including the reconstruction of the House of Commons, which was damaged after the 1941 bombing.

The unique appearance of the modern structure is created by the three main towers, which, according to the architectural design of Charles Barry and Northmore Pugin, dominate the building and are the most memorable elements of the complex.

The southwest corner of the Palace is occupied by the Victoria Tower, the highest (98.5 m) tower of the Palace of Westminster. The large square structure as a symbol of the legislature, with a royal entrance to the palace and a fireproof vault for the archives of Parliament, was an iconic part of Barry's competition design. Initially, the architect planned to call the building the Royal Tower and redid the drawings several times. With each change in design, the structure's intended height gradually increased, and upon its completion in 1858, it was the tallest secular building in the world.

The tower is equipped with the Sovereign's Entrance - an arched castle gate designed for the arrival at the Westminster Palace of the monarch, who annually opens Parliament or heads other state events. The high 15-meter arch is richly decorated with sculptures, including statues of Saints George, Andrew, Patrick, as well as Queen Victoria herself. The Victoria Tower's main building houses three million documents from the Parliamentary Archives, stored on 8.8 kilometers of steel shelving located on 12 floors of the Victoria Tower. It contains the master copies of all Acts of Parliament since 1497 and important manuscripts such as the original Bill of Rights or the death warrant of King Charles I. At the top of the pyramidal cast-iron roof is a 22-meter flagship spire, on which the Royal Standard develops during the presence of the sovereign in the palace . On all other days, the Flag of the Union is raised on the flagpole.

Elizabeth Tower

At the northern end of the palace rises Elizabeth Tower - the most popular and iconic building in London, better known around the world as Big Ben. The 96-meter-high structure is not much shorter than the Victoria Tower, but much sleeker and narrower. Designed in the Neo-Gothic style by the architect Pugin, the structure was erected after the death of its author. Until 2012, the building was known as the Clock Tower, and the current name was given to it in honor of the “diamond” 60th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II. The whole structure looks elegant and graceful.

Elizabeth Tower houses the Great Clock of the Palace of Westminster, built by John Dent and designed by amateur watchmaker Lord Edmund Denison. Put into operation since 1859, the mechanism impresses with its accuracy, which is considered impossible for a watch of the 19th century. The time is indicated by a 4.3-meter hour hand and a 2.7-meter minute hand on four 7-meter milk glass discs, which are backlit at night. BBC company in documentary about the Victoria Tower compared the clock face to a giant rose, the petals of which are edged with gold.

Tower bells and lantern

Five bells hang above the clock in the bell tower. Four of them strike every quarter of the hour marked by the Westminster chimes. The largest, the Great Bell of Westminster, commonly referred to as Big Ben, rings every hour. The first bell with this name broke during testing and was recast. The current Big Ben has also acquired a crack over time, which gives the fight its characteristic sound. Weighing 13.8 tons, this bell is the third largest in the UK.

At the top of the Elizabeth Tower is Ayrton Light - Ayrton's lantern, named after the famous English politician. The purpose of the lantern refers to the interesting facts of the Palace of Westminster. It shines during the evening work of the Parliamentary Chamber and was installed in 1885 at the request of Queen Victoria so that she could observe the time of the Legislative Assembly from Buckingham Palace.

central tower

In the middle of the complex, directly above the Central Lobby, rises an octagonal tower, the shortest of the three. It was added at the urging of Dr. David Reed, who was in charge of ventilating the new Houses of Parliament, and was designed to extract the smoke from the palace's 400 fireplaces. However, since the structure itself provided an opportunity to improve the exterior design of the palace, Barry chose a spire shape for it to balance the massive side towers. As a result, the building did not fulfill its purpose at all, but became notable as the first time that mechanical services had a real impact on architectural design.

Excursions

If the exterior of the Houses of Parliament, especially Big Ben, is one of London's most popular attractions, then a clear view inside the Palace of Westminster is not available. Nevertheless, there are several options for visiting the premises, but even then access to the halls will remain very limited.

Residents of the UK can get a ticket from the MP representing their region and take a seat in the Observation Gallery of the House of Commons. Or one of the Lords has the right to grant a pass for the presence of a visitor in the gallery of the House of Lords. Citizens of the United Kingdom or British educational institutions may request a Member of Parliament or Lord to give a tour of the premises of the Palace of Westminster during sessions. But still, only a very small part of the palace interior can be visited, and this system is temporarily suspended for foreigners.

You can take advantage of excursions, open to all comers, during the two summer months when Parliament is not in session and is on vacation. But a place for such a visit has to be booked in advance, since the number of people who wish significantly exceeds the number of places in excursion groups.

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Considering London as one of the most attractive cities, it is impossible not to mention its traditions, culture and many valuable sights, one of which plays a leading role in Foggy Albion. This is the Palace of Westminster.

In 2004, the British authorities decided to open the Palace of Westminster for public access. All tourists who visit London have an outstanding opportunity to see with their own eyes all the splendor of the inner halls and even observe the efficiency of the work process of the Lords and the representatives of the House of Commons.

Given the chance to visit the Houses of Parliament, one should not miss the opportunity to see Westminster Hall, the preserved legendary building built for the son of William the Conqueror. It will be important to mention that Westminster Hall became the venue for a memorial service for Winston Churchill.

Recreation history and significant significance

The first version of the parliamentary structure was erected about a thousand years ago in a swampy area, then still uninhabited. Its construction was necessary for only one purpose - to replace the Tower, which in the expanded city was surrounded by poverty, living in that quarter of the poor.

Representatives of the authorities began to experience difficulties associated with such a "bad-smelling" neighborhood. This fact simply forced them to organize a move some distance away from the lower class of citizens. The King of England Edward and his family members also moved to the new residence, completed by the middle of the 11th century. It is worth noting an important detail that the first Palace of Westminster did not have any resemblance to the current richest building.

The Palace of Westminster acquired historical importance after the signing of a key agreement that influenced the formation of the political system of England in the 13th century. We are talking about the Magna Carta, signed under the pressure of society by the English King John Landless.

Today, this decree has become in some sense exemplary, demonstrating the model of a modern full-fledged state, the fundamental principles of which should be democracy, getting rid of tyranny and bureaucratic delays. With the entry into force of the "liberties", the king lost the right to single-handedly rule the country, then most of the decisions made fell on the competent shoulders of the people's parliament. The power of the monarchical dynasty remained symbolic, performing essentially only representative functions of leadership.

New Westminster

The construction and expansion of the Houses of Parliament was constantly implemented over the next few centuries. The turning point in its history was a terrible fire in 1834, after which the main body of the building turned into ashes, but two parts of the palace survived: Westminster Hall and the tower that saves jewelry.

The planned restoration of an architectural monument in London remained the first item on the agenda of Parliament. The government immediately announced a competition for the most preferred version of the new House of Parliament. The grand tender was won by Charles Barry. Collaborating with Welby Pugin, they completed their task and erected the very colossal Palace of Westminster, which has become the hallmark of modern London.

In accordance with the building project of Charles Barry, who meticulously approached the layout of each room, the construction of the new building was approved in the new Gothic style. Thousands of workers were involved in the long-term voluminous work, since the construction dragged on for almost 50 years.

As a result, 1888 was marked by the completed building of the Palace of Westminster and St. Stephen's Tower, which can still be admired today. The famous British Big Ben is the St. Stephen's Tower, which is known on all continents.

Inside the epochal palace

All luxurious rooms, corridors and halls defy simple description, and you can feel the full weight of the structure only by visiting it personally. In addition, if you believe today's figures of architecture, then any attempt to find something similar in the world will end in vain.

The incredible area of ​​the building does not seem huge due to the execution in the neo-Gothic style. The Palace of Westminster consists of 11 courtyards, each of which is original and unique in its own way, about 100 staircases, almost 5.5 kilometers long corridors and more than 1000 rooms. Creating an impression of grace, it is harmoniously inscribed in the current London.

The famous Parliament is represented by two chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords of England. Each of them is located at opposite ends of the building, so the path from one chamber to another turns into a real journey through the picturesque heritage of the British past. All the walls of the halls are occupied with wall paintings depicting fragments of British history, and according to the guides, these works of art are truly priceless. An impressive part of the paintings belongs to the brushes of world classics, who began to create since the reign of King Arthur of England.

You can continue to describe the sculpture, the incomparable stucco molding and the golden decor of the premises ad infinitum. However, it is worth noting the most compelling and richest part of the palace premises - the House of Lords of England. Its purpose is to consider the main decisions for the state, where the Lords speak with their eloquent monologues.

A feature of the House of Lords is the absence of a speaker, but his functions were taken over by an ordinary bag of sheep's wool. Even in ancient times, the sale of wool brought a significant share of the income to the state treasury, and in gratitude for the valuable export commodity, he was appointed "Speaker" of the House of Lords.

In contrast to the pathos of the first chamber, the House of Commons received more modest decorations, since the Lords are not present there. At the same time, it is here that the main and important resolutions for the whole country are adopted. Representatives of the ruling and opposition parties are in the House of Commons. The specially created distance between their lodges is equated to the length of two swords extended in the hands. The prudence of such a "green corridor" was explained by the medieval irascibility of political opponents - so they could not harm each other with a sword. Although by force in the House of Commons in the UK do not resolve disputes. After all, despite the changes in the political structure, the parliamentary monarchy retained the main role, and therefore the behavior of members of the House of Commons, empowered by the people, is relatively different from the meeting of deputies in the post-Soviet powers.

Having a long and fascinating history, the House of the English Parliament has become famous throughout the world for its unique architectural form. The huge architectural structure is recognizable among millions of people. Travelers and tourists from dozens of countries constantly replace each other on excursions around the legendary house. All these facts indicate that the Palace of Westminster is one of the main attractions of all of Europe.

The Palace of Westminster in London (in English “The Palace of Westminster”) is the modern face of the United Kingdom, which is proud of its thousand-year history. If Buckingham Palace is the residence of the Queen, then the British Parliament sits in this place. The building fascinates with its grandeur and magnificent panorama that extends over the Thames. This Victorian gothic gem is a constant draw for tourists and Londoners alike. Each of them seeks to plunge into history and see the Palace of Westminster close by, where the main attractions of Great Britain are located: Big Ben, the Royal Gallery and Westminster Hall.

Panorama of the Palace of Westminster

History of the Palace of Westminster

Have you ever wondered why Westminster got that name? Its history goes back to the distant 11th century, when the Anglo-Saxons dominated these lands. They were the first to create a temple here, originally called the western church, that is, “west minster”. Over time, this name spread to the entire area located on the banks of the Thames.

In 1066, the first ever coronation of Duke William took place at Westminster. He turned the palace into his residence. Since then, all monarchs, except for Edward V and Edward VIII, held the ceremony here.

Since the 13th century, the palace has been the meeting place of the British government. And in 1512, after a massive fire in the building, King Henry VIII decides to completely transfer Westminster into the possession of the Houses of Parliament. Since then, the palace has become the center of the political life of the country. However, most of the solemn ceremonies continue to be held here.

Royal Gallery, where solemn ceremonies take place

During its existence, Westminster was repeatedly destroyed. In 1834, part of the palace was destroyed by another fire. The decision of the Parliament to stay in the building simply saved it from decline, because a partial reconstruction was carried out here so that the Chambers could continue to work.

Another fatal page in the history of the parliament building was the Second World War. The numerous bombings that London experienced could not but affect the condition of the building. However, Westminster was able to recover fairly quickly. Already in the 50s, the Palace of Westminster, the photo of which is given below, acquired its usual appearance.

House of Parliament after the 1950 war

Now the palace includes:

• westminster hall where celebrations and various exhibitions are held
• Tower of royal jewels, where the hereditary jewels of the British royal dynasty are kept, and an exposition dedicated to the history of Parliament
• Church of the Intercession of St. Mary to which only parliamentarians have access. Here they are allowed to hold marriage ceremonies and baptisms.
• Corridor and meeting rooms separated for staff offices.

Another integral part of the Palace of Westminster is the towers located on its territory. Designed once as a chimney, the Central Tower now has over 400 fireplaces. The Victoria Tower continues to serve as the Parliamentary Archives, with over 3 million documents. Yet the most famous among them is the Elizabeth Tower, which flaunts the work of Sir Edward Beckett - Big Ben.

To the west of the palace is the famous Westminster Abbey. British kings, prominent scientists and politicians found their last refuge in it. Here marriages were born that continued the British royal line, and baptisms of the heirs of the crown were held, changing the course of history. The monastery was built over 500 years, starting from the 13th century, but the first mention of it dates back to the 7th. It is here that you can fully feel the atmosphere that reigned at the coronation of British monarchs. After all, this place has witnessed all the outstanding ceremonies since the 11th century.

View of Westminster Abbey

Tour of the Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster inside surprises with its grandeur and size. It has 1100 rooms, 100 stairwells, and this despite the presence of only 4 floors, as well as almost 5 kilometers of corridors. The lower, so-called basement floor contains offices, dining rooms and bars. The first floor, which is also called the main one, includes the main halls of the palace: libraries, a meeting room, and a lobby. Two more floors are used for office space for parliament workers.

Every year in November, the opening ceremony of Parliament takes place in Westminster. The monarch is always present on it. During the opening, it passes through the Royal Stairs, the Normandy Veranda, the Royal Gallery, the Prince's Chamber and completes it with the House of Lords. Despite all the destruction that the palace had to experience during the Second World War, and numerous examples of art, in particular wall paintings, destroyed after fires, its modern appearance attracts crowds of amazed tourists. Lush decor, stucco and wooden decoration of the halls, chandeliers that captivate attention - the interior of the parliament is not inferior to the royal residences. Externally, the building looks no less magnificent, its monumentality is breathtaking: sharp spiers, tall walls with stained-glass windows, wide archways. The palace in Westminster, towering over the Thames, really has something to charm the eyes of its guests.

House of Lords in the palace

Interesting facts about Westminster Abbey and Palace

Since Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster are some of the most historical sights not only in the United Kingdom, but in the whole world, most of the facts about them are no longer new to the British and even people who have never been here. However, we still found in the history of the Palace of Westminster Interesting Facts for you.

1. Although Westminster Abbey is known as such among visitors, its real name is St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Westminster.
2. During World War II, the coronation chair was sent to Gloucester Church for preservation, and the stone was buried under Westminster Abbey.
3. Big Ben is not really Big Ben. The tower is called the Elizabeth Tower, and the clock inside is called the Great Clock of Westminster. The origin of the name Big Ben is still unknown.
4. Westminster Hall - oldest part castle, which has been preserved since the time when the palace was built, and its roof is the oldest medieval structure in Britain.
5. The decoration colors of the palace actually carry a hidden meaning: gold is the color of the monarch, red is the color of the House of Lords and green is the color of the House of Commons. Their hierarchy is also followed here - gold on top, red in the middle, and green on the bottom.

The surrender of Parliament over the Thames

Where is the Palace of Westminster located: address, opening hours

You can get to the Palace of Westminster using the underground. The nearest station is Westminster. You can buy entrance tickets on the spot by ordering by phone or online, you can also print them here. Entrance prices range from £18 to £28, depending on whether you use a guide or audio guide. Children under 5 years old are entitled to free admission. Tourists with disabilities can, if necessary, be provided with an escort to move around the territory. Tours are also offered at the Palace of Westminster for groups of 10 people or more.
Please note that tours are held in April, May and August, similar to Buckingham Palace, but it is better to check the exact dates and times on the Internet.

Night panorama of Westminster

Hanna Koval

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Address: UK, London, Westminster area
Start of construction: 1840
Completion of construction: 1860
Architect: Charles Barry, Augustus Welby Northmore
Coordinates: 51°29"58.6"N 0°07"27.9"W

Content:

Short description

View of the palace from the ferris wheel

Quite recently, one of the sociological services conducted a rather interesting and strange, at first glance, study. The company's specialists visited most of the shops and small shops of the city, where they calculated the percentage of ... fridge magnets, which depict the main sights of London. Surprisingly, 85% of these popular inexpensive souvenirs depict the Palace of Westminster in London. Strange, strange, if only because in the capital of Great Britain there is also Buckingham Palace, in which the legendary Queen of England lives, the London Eye, and a huge number of attractions. But the overwhelming majority of tourists are invited to keep the memory of the capital of the United Kingdom, nevertheless, through the Palace of Westminster.

Before a trip to London, you can not even rely on the statistics of sociological services, do not pay attention to tourist brochures, just go to any social network and look at the photos of your friends who have already managed to visit the capital of England. There is no doubt that most of their London photos were taken with the Palace of Westminster in the background. Near the building where the Parliament of England sits, as mentioned above, there is always a huge crowd of people. It seems as if a festival of the peoples of the world is taking place next to the Palace of Westminster.

View of the palace from the opposite side of the Thames

Different speech is heard from everywhere: English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese and Russian merge into a single, non-stop rumble. All this once again proves that the Palace of Westminster is not only one of the main attractions of England, but without a doubt, of the entire vast Old World.

Palace of Westminster - ancient history and legendary event

The first Palace of Westminster, according to surviving documents, was built in an uninhabited and marshy area in 1042. It was erected by order of the rulers of the kingdom instead of the Tower, which, with the expansion of the city, in some incredible way ended up in the most impoverished quarter of the capital. One has only to imagine what the authorities of the capital experienced among the poor, who still "smelled badly." This state of affairs simply forced the main building of the city to be moved away from the impoverished "rabble" of London. How could monarchs rule a country in such a terrible place? A new residence in a swampy area, from the windows of which the position in which England found itself in those distant times was not so clearly visible, was almost completely completed by 1042. Immediately after the completion of its construction, King Edward and his family moved there. Looking ahead a little, I would like to immediately note that the old building had nothing in common with the modern majestic Palace of Westminster, which is a symbol of London and which is captured in tens of thousands of paintings and professional photographs.

View of the palace from the Lambeth Bridge

The Palace of Westminster was constantly growing: already 45 years after the completion of its construction, it was decided to attach to the son of the legendary William the Conqueror architectural structure Westminster Hall. The son of the great commander, who won many victories over his enemies in his lifetime, was called William the Red II. It was this man who decided that the palace must necessarily have the most luxurious hall in which it would not be a shame to arrange magnificent receptions and even conduct coronation ceremonies in front of representatives of other countries. In addition to these ceremonies, by order of William the Red II, Westminster Hall began to constantly hold meetings of the highest judicial authority in England - the Supreme Court of the country. By the way, Westminster Hall, built a little less than 1,000 (!) years ago, is the only building that has survived to this day. According to modern architects, Westminster Hall was designed and built in the Gothic style. By the way, even the most ordinary tourist, who has absolutely nothing to do with architecture, can easily determine this: it is enough to compare only Westminster Hall and other buildings of the palace.

View of the Palace from Westminster Bridge

The Palace of Westminster is interesting not only for its architecture (whether new or old). In the distant 13th century, a very important document was signed here, which played a key role in the formation of the political structure of England. It is under this document that many prestigious colleges currently teach students what a modern, secure, democratic state should look like and how to get rid of bureaucracy and tyranny. It was in the 13th century that King John of England, under pressure from the public, signed a decree that went down in history as the Magna Carta.

Naturally, there was no talk of any anarchy in it. All the "liberties" consisted in the fact that the king was deprived of the right to rule the country alone: ​​since the 13th century, many important decisions regarding foreign and domestic policy were made by the parliament, which was elected by the people! Monarchs have become only a kind of symbol of the country, something like a coat of arms or a flag. Even taxes were introduced and calculated by the parliament, which was just the same salvation for the impoverished population of the country. For this reason, the Palace of Westminster can be considered not only the “visiting card” of London, its main attraction, a monument of architecture and history, but also a symbol of the constitutional parliamentary monarchy. It is this model of power that is currently considered the most effective in the world.

Westminster Bridge with the Palace of Westminster in the background

It is possible to talk about the construction of the Palace of Westminster and its expansion for an infinitely long time: the people constantly supported the improvements of the building, because the parliament sat there, which at one time saved it from the arbitrariness of the monarchs. The thing is that in 1834, almost the entire Palace of Westminster, built in 1042 ..., burned to the ground. Until the 19th century, two structures remained from the former majestic building where the Parliament of England met: the same Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower. True, the last room that served as a treasury was built only in the 14th century, by order, and then by its subsequent approval by Parliament (!), King Edward III.

Palace of Westminster - a new story

Restoring the building for Parliament was an urgent matter: immediately after the fire, the British government announced a competition for the best plan for the new Palace of Westminster. It was won without much difficulty by Charles Barry, who presented a grandiose and unique project of its kind. True, Barry was well aware that it was impossible for him to cope with all the work alone, so he enlists the cooperation of Augustus Welby Pugin, with whom he builds the very Palace of Westminster, the view of which any tourist visiting the capital of England can enjoy today.

View of the palace at night

According to the plan of Charles Barry, a new building for the parliament was decided to be built in neo-Gothic (new Gothic style). To say that the construction of the Palace of Westminster took place in record time and "without a hitch" would not be true. There were difficulties, and they constantly arose before the architects and the huge number of workers involved in the construction of the facility. The construction site had to be prepared for more than three years, and the construction of the Palace of Westminster itself took just over 48 years (from 1840 to 1888).

Over such a long period of time, not only the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt, but St. Stephen's Tower, which can be found in our time on a huge number of posters, calendars and other printed materials. For those who have not yet been brought to London, and who are too lazy (or maybe just didn’t have time) to get acquainted with its history and sights, we’ll clarify that St. Stephen’s Tower is the very famous and legendary Big Ben. Of course, almost every civilized inhabitant of our planet knows about this name of the tower.

By the way, despite the fact that the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben were built relatively recently, there is no exact evidence of where the name of St. Stephen's Tower "Big Ben" came from. There are only versions, and versions, as you know, are quite easy to refute.

View of the eastern facade of the palace

Some historians claim that Benjamin Hall, affectionately known as Ben, was a foreman of great stature in the construction of the Palace of Westminster and St. Stephen's Tower. Others claim that Big Ben got its "nickname" in honor of the popular boxer. However, the most interesting and, at the same time, the most confusing version says that the tower was named after one representative of the parliament. His name, by the way, was also Benjamin and his last name was Hall. He went to the podium and began to explain for a long time how to call the clock tower. He spoke for so long that he himself became confused in historical facts, and no one listened to his mumbling. Finally, after an hour and a half, he ended his tirade, which had no meaning as such. Parliament breathed a sigh of relief and one of its members asked the speaker a question: "So what do you propose in the end?". Benjamin Hall was confused, and someone shouted: "Let's name the tower after this long and tedious speech - Big Ben!" The joke was accepted with a bang and the tower got its name. Which of these three versions to believe, everyone decides for himself. It is worth repeating, not a single official evidence in favor of this or that opinion has been found today.

Before the clock was installed on the tower of St. Stephen, quite a long time passed. The delays were connected with the requirements of the London authorities. The clock should lag behind or advance no more than 1 second per day. All the most respected watchmakers simply laughed at such a condition: 19th century technology simply did not allow the creation of a giant clock that had to be placed on a high tower and run with extreme accuracy. Only Edmund Beckett Denison took up the development of the plan, who managed to fulfill all the requirements in five years. The clockwork of Big Ben did not lag behind by more than a second a day. By the way, the weight of the watch designed by Edmund Beckett Denison is just over 5,000 kilograms.

A bit of official information will not hurt either: the height of St. Stephen's Tower or Big Ben (as you like) is almost 96 and a half meters. Many may think that this is the tallest building architectural ensemble called the Palace of Westminster. However, this opinion is far from the truth, the tallest tower of the palace is the Victoria Tower, its height is 102 meters. In some tourist brochures, another figure is indicated - 98.4 meters, but it has nothing to do with reality. The tower, named after Victoria, was built so huge with only one purpose, to fit in it the entire archive of documents considered by the Parliament of England. Big Ben and the Victoria Tower, however, like other rooms, are made entirely of refractory materials: the 1834 fire at the Palace of Westminster has forever remained in the memory of Londoners.

View of the Palace from Parliament Square

During World War II, the Palace of Westminster in London became a prime target for Nazi pilots.. To hit him with a bomb was an honor for every Luftwaffe ace. For this reason, the main symbol of London, where Parliament met and where Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his fiery speeches, was seriously damaged. The Palace of Westminster, which, as mentioned above, is a symbol of the constitutional parliamentary monarchy, was completely reconstructed in 1950. It cannot be said that the building was only slightly damaged, on the contrary, the damage to the Palace of Westminster was serious: it was possible to revive it completely in 5 years only thanks to the huge budget and the heroism of the English workers. Alas, the bombs also hit the legendary Big Ben. The clock mechanism "gave a serious failure", it began to lag behind by as much as 2 seconds a day. The British eliminated the problem quite quickly and simply: they only did that they attached a coin to a huge pendulum. The weight of just one penny affected Big Ben's clock, and it again ticked with extreme precision.

Palace of Westminster in London - short tour

The phrase "short tour" in the subtitle of the material does not mean at all that there is nothing to see in the Palace of Westminster. On the contrary, it is simply not possible to describe all its rooms, luxurious halls, corridors and, of course, Big Ben in one article. Trying to find a palace on our vast planet that could be compared with Westminster is a thankless task: it has no equal and, according to modern architects, will not be in the near foreseeable future.

View of the east front of the palace from Westminster Bridge

11 courtyards, each of which is unique, just over 100 staircases, corridors with a total length of more than five kilometers and 1,200 (!) Rooms - where else in the world can you find such a scale and such splendor? The area of ​​the palace is huge, but thanks to the Neo-Gothic style, it does not seem like a massive bulk, on the contrary, it creates the impression of “lightness” and fits organically into modern London. Although, it would be more correct to say that modern London is in harmony with the Palace of Westminster.

Parliament, which is perhaps the most famous in the whole world, consists of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords of England. They are located at different ends of the building and are interconnected by several giant halls at once, between which there are also corridors. It takes a long time to get from one chamber of the Palace of Westminster to another. However, a journey through these halls and corridors turns into a real tour of the museum! The walls of the rooms connecting the chambers are decorated with wall paintings. Most of the paintings, which depict almost the entire history of Foggy Albion, starting from the reign of King Arthur, belong to the brushes of the most famous artists in the world. They, according to art critics and numerous guides, have no price - they are priceless.

Monument to Richard the Lionheart

You can talk about sculptures, stunning stucco and gold decoration for an infinitely long time. It is simply impossible to describe all 1,200 rooms and numerous corridors in any material or even a cycle of television programs. It is only necessary to note that the richest and most beautiful room in the entire Palace of Westminster is the House of Lords of England. It is in it that important decisions for the country are considered (but not yet taken) and it is there that the Lords deliver their fiery speeches. There is no speaker in the House of Lords, his role is played by a bag of wool. For those who do not know, in ancient times England was the main exporter of sheep's wool, which brought the lion's share of income to its budget. In memory of these times, the "Speaker" of the House of Lords was made an ordinary "scrap of wool".

It was decided to decorate the House of Commons a little more modestly: after all, the Lords do not sit there. This is where the most important decisions for the country are made. Representatives of the ruling party and the opposition sit in the House of Commons at the Palace of Westminster. Between these lodges a distance is specially made, which is equal to the length of two swords extended in the hand. As many have already guessed, the architects provided for this “corridor” not by chance: in this way, representatives of the opposition and the ruling party will not be able to hit the opponent with a sword. Fists in England in the House of Commons do not beat political opponents, yet we are talking about a country in which the constitutional parliamentary monarchy has won, and the representatives of the people in the House of Commons are somewhat different from the deputies sitting in their halls in the post-Soviet space.

victoria tower

By the way, in 2004 it was decided to open the Palace of Westminster to the people. Tourists who come to London will be able to personally see all the magnificent halls and even observe how efficiently the Lords work in their rich chamber. Not hidden from prying eyes and the workflow in the House of Commons. True, it is boring to watch the representatives of this chamber: you will not see fistfights, or throwing eggs, or explosions of firecrackers there.

While the Lords and representatives of the communities are resting, one should definitely see the legendary and preserved Westminster Hall, built for the son of William the Conqueror. By the way, it was in this building that a memorial service for the “greatest Briton” in the history of Foggy Albion, Winston Churchill, took place at one time.