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Westminster Leasing

Did You Know?

The name (Old English: Westmynstre) originated from the informal description of the abbey church and royal peculiar of St Peter's (Westminster Abbey), west of the City of London (until the English Reformation there was also an Eastminster, near the Tower of London, in the East End of London).

The City of Westminster has more than 11,000 listed buildings of architectural or historical importance. These include not only the Abbey and Houses of Parliament, but also Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, the Victoria Memorial, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, the National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, the Wellington Arch, the Royal Albert Hall, and more. And that’s just a small sample of the Grade I listed buildings. Grade II includes other structures such as Broadcasting House and Covent Garden Market.

While Westminster Abbey was originally dedicated in 1065 C.E., under the reign of King Edward the Confessor, most of that original building was demolished in the 13th century when Henry III rebuilt the church. "The earliest Abbey buildings survive only as archaeological traces," says Cooper. "But much of Henry III's Gothic Abbey of the thirteenth century can still be seen today, including the Chapter House with its tiled floor, the Purbeck marble shrine of St. Edward the Confessor, and wall-paintings of St. Christopher and Doubting Thomas that were rediscovered in the 1930s."

The Coronation Chair is one of the most famous pieces of furniture in the world. It was originally commissioned in 1300 by King Edward I to hold the massive Stone of Scone, which Edward had taken from Scotland. Also known at the Stone of Destiny, the huge block of sandstone is where Scottish kings were crowned beginning in about the year 498. Once it was placed under the care of the Abbot of Westminster, the coronation chair – a large throne made of oak – was built to sit atop it.

The UK Parliament is one of the oldest and most influential parliaments in the world. It has been the centre of British democracy since 1265 when the first Parliament met in the city of Westminster. This makes it the longest continuously running government in the world. Over the centuries, it has developed many traditions and has a rich and fascinating history.

Whilst most people know this location as the Houses of Parliament, it has another name, and one which is actually far older than its current incarnation. Once known better as the Palace of Westminster after it was built during the 11th century, the main building here was once a large royal palace. This original structure was badly damaged by a fire in 1512, and then completely destroyed by a subsequent fire in 1834. After this enduring damage, it was replaced with a more robust structure.