About the Westminster Abbey, Britain Through the Ages Walk in London
From its founding in the 11th century to the wedding of Prince William and Kate, Westminster Abbey occupied a central position in British history. Part national shrine, part sacred space, this church has long acted as a kind of fulcrum for political power—be it royal or populist. During this three-hour walk with a historian, we will immerse ourselves in the medieval atmosphere of Westminster and journey through nearly 1000 years of British history.
Our walk begins in Parliament Square, beside the Abbey. Surrounded by symbols of royal and parliamentary power, we'll situate the Abbey itself in a historical landscape. Originally a marshy knoll along the side of the Thames and home to one of the poorest populations in the city, we'll discuss the area's transformation over the centuries.
Using the architecture of the Abbey itself as a kind of textbook, we'll learn how to read and understand Gothic architecture. A palimpsest of historical time periods and styles, we'll pull apart the build
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From its founding in the 11th century to the wedding of Prince William and Kate, Westminster Abbey occupied a central position in British history. Part national shrine, part sacred space, this church has long acted as a kind of fulcrum for political power—be it royal or populist. During this three-hour walk with a historian, we will immerse ourselves in the medieval atmosphere of Westminster and journey through nearly 1000 years of British history.
Our walk begins in Parliament Square, beside the Abbey. Surrounded by symbols of royal and parliamentary power, we'll situate the Abbey itself in a historical landscape. Originally a marshy knoll along the side of the Thames and home to one of the poorest populations in the city, we'll discuss the area's transformation over the centuries.
Using the architecture of the Abbey itself as a kind of textbook, we'll learn how to read and understand Gothic architecture. A palimpsest of historical time periods and styles, we'll pull apart the building and its decorative elements, discussing the symbolic use of certain features and actual use of the building complex as residence, school, and administrative center for the Anglican church. We'll spend a good amount of time exploring the hidden areas of the complex including the gardens (if possible) and the particularly beguiling cloisters. These relaxed, quiet atmosphere of these spaces will enable us to engage in a serious discussion of the Abbey's role in the lives and works of such luminaries as Geoffrey Chaucer (who was employed here and probably drew a good amount of material from the goings on for his Canterbury Tales.
As the church of the queen (or king, as it might be) Westminster Abbey served as the setting for all coronations. It is also the final resting place for most royalty and legions of other notable Britons from Elizabeth I to Charles Darwin. Experts estimate there may be over 30,000 graves in all within the confines of the church.
This will shape the second half of our walk as we enter the main church itself and wander among the monuments, tombs, and testaments. Taken together these objects—and the great church itself—will serve as a kind of narrative of British history. We'll trace the reigns of kings, the intrigues of dynasties, and the impact of certain key figures from politics, art, and science. As we move among the monuments we'll trace a millennium of English history.
With over 600 memorials inside the nave and transcept of the church, the range of topics we might discuss is wide. But certain themes typically emerge. One is the conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Another is the Great War and the second world war. Another is the balance between royalty sovereignty and the rise of democracy. Within the magical atmosphere of Westminster Abbey and in the presence of so much material history, we'll discuss them all, and more.
As we move along, we'll continue to pay attention to the intricate architectural decoration that makes this one of the most significant churches in the world, including the Italian Cosmati paving on the high altar, the ornate stone work in the 16th century apse, and the wide range of sculpture represented on the tombs. We'll also learn how to read British heraldry (a fundamental talent!) omnipresent elsewhere in Westminster, and indeed throughout London: the portcullis and roses of the Tudors; the lion stretching back to Scotland; and the unicorn, a symbol of Elizabeth I.
Our walk may conclude by witnessing the daily prayer said over the medieval tomb of Edward the Confessor, founder of the church. A rite that has been performed for nearly a thousand years, it give us a chance to wrap our walk with a bit of living history and ponder the continuing legacy of Westminster Abbey.
