Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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. Henry VII Chapel VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
The Chapel, built in 1503–19,
has superb late Perpendicular Practical Information
vaultings and choir stalls Broad Sanctuary SW1. Tel 020-
dating from 1512. 7222 5152. Cloisters: Open
8am–6pm daily. Royal Chapels,
Poets’ Corner, Chapter House,
Choir, Statesmen’s Aisle & Nave:
Open 9:30am–3:30pm Mon–Fri
(until 6pm Wed), 9:30am–2pm
Sat. & free to cloisters, College
Garden and St. Margaret’s Church;
the rest has an admission charge.
8 7 limited. 5 Evensong:
5pm Mon–Fri, 3pm Sat & Sun. -
= ∑ westminster-abbey.org
Transport
1 St. James’s Park, Westminster.
@ 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 88, 148, 159,
211, 453. 4 Westminster Pier.

. Chapter House
This beautiful octagonal room,
remarkable for its 13th-century
tiled floor, is lit by six huge
stained-glass windows
showing scenes from the
abbey’s history.

Historical Plan of the Abbey
The first abbey church was established as early as the 10th century,
but the present French-influenced Gothic structure was begun in
1245 at the behest of Henry III. Because of its unique role as the
coronation church, the abbey escaped Henry VIII’s
dissolution of Britain’s monastic buildings
(1536–9) during the Protestant
Reformation.

Key
Built before 1400
Built in 1503–19
Poets’ Corner
Among the great poets Completed by 1745
honored here are Completed after 1850
Shakespeare (above),
Chaucer, and T.S. Eliot.

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