Aisle of Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendiculatr, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. Visitors are welcome most days provided they can afford the hefty fee and abide by the strict ban on photography (if ever there was a church to take photos in it's this one, which makes the prohibition all the more painful). I managed a few internal shots in the happier times of the mid-1990s when it was briefly permitted on summer Wednesdays after 6pm.
Aisle of Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendiculatr, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. Visitors are welcome most days provided they can afford the hefty fee and abide by the strict ban on photography (if ever there was a church to take photos in it's this one, which makes the prohibition all the more painful). I managed a few internal shots in the happier times of the mid-1990s when it was briefly permitted on summer Wednesdays after 6pm.