Westminster Abbey

The history of Westminster Abbey started with a place known as "Thorney Island." The place where Westminster now stands was known as Thorney Island because it was a small, marshy area next to the Thames (Trowles 1). Twelve monks were gathered together here under the Bishop of London in 960 AD. These monks received land from King Edgar; this is the beginning of the connection between the Abbey and the royalty. Then when King Edward was in power, he built his new palace on Thorney Island and built a stone church for the small monastic community who worshiped there (Trowles 1). Because of Edward’s pious nature, he was canonized by the Pope nearly a century after his death. Westminster, where he was buried, became a place of pilgrimage after his canonization as St Edward the Confessor.

Westminster Abbey, as it can be seen today, was largely the work of Henry III, because he wanted to build a new shrine to St Edward the Confessor. Work began in 1245 and continued until 1269 (Clifton-Taylor 121). This new Abbey was done in a French Gothic style; it was a magnificent building to house the new shrine to St Edward. In reality, the English style of building was combined with the French to create the Abbey that is now standing. The flying buttresses and the rose windows are characteristic of the French style. The English style can be seen in the projecting transepts and the long nave, which stands as the highest in England at 102 feet (Leapman 92).

When Henry VIII came to power, Westminster Abbey felt the effects of his decision to split from Rome. Previous to the Reformation, Westminster had been a monastery where monks and nuns worshipped and committed their lives to God. However, Henry dissolved the monasteries that existed in England, including the one at Westminster (Trowles 5). Although the monastery was gone after the Reformation, a “collegiate church” was established at the Abbey when Elizabeth I became Queen. This is when the Abbey received its official name, The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster. This church was governed by clergyman, known as the Dean and Chapter, whose main occupation was to worship God (Trowles 5). Even though the monks had been removed from Westminster, these clergymen were also devoted Christians, who were in charge of taking care of the Abbey.

Westminster Abbey was designed not only as a magnificent church for religious services, but it was also to be closely connected to the Crown. Every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned at Westminster Abbey. In 1953, the coronation of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first coronation to be televised (Leapman 92). Westminster Abbey is not only a place where royalty begins their reign over England, but for many of the monarchs, it is where they finish their rule as well. Many of the past rulers of this country have been buried at Westminster, which makes Westminster a truly unique place.

When I visited Westminster Abbey, I was amazed at the grandeur of the architecture. I especially was impressed with the rose windows, the high ceilings of the nave, and the flying buttresses. Another thing that I enjoyed at Westminster Abbey was how much history was there; I was amazed with how many famous people are buried there. I also thought it was interesting how the royalty were connected to each other through the generations. The English king Edward the Confessor impacted Henry III’s life in a way that made him want to rebuild an entire Abbey just to create a shrine to him. I also thought it was interesting how the Abbey represented the idea that all the people buried here, famous or otherwise, were united in death no matter what their opinions had been during life. This message was especially relevant at the grave of Mary I and Elizabeth I. They had been extreme opposites in life, not even able to understand the other, and yet in death they shared the same fate and are buried next to each other at Westminster. One of my favorite parts of visiting Westminster Abbey was how the history of the rulers combined with religion to show how the church and state have been intertwined throughout the history of England.

Works Cited

Clifton-Taylor, Alec. The Cathedrals of England. London: Thames and Hudson, Ltd. 1986.

Leapman, Michael. Great Britain. London: Dorling Kindersley Ltd. 1995.

Trowles, Tony. Westminster Abbey. London: Scala Publishers. 2006.

St Paul's Cathedral

There have been several cathedrals in the place where St. Paul’s Cathedral stands today. The first cathedral that is known to have stood here was built in 604 A.D. under Mellitus, who was Bishop of the East Saxons. This cathedral was dedicated to St Paul, but the cathedral only lasted until 675, when it burned down (About St Paul’s). The next cathedral built on the same spot was destroyed by the Vikings. It was replaced by a church, but a fire destroyed that church in 1087. The Normans then began to build what is now known as Old St Paul’s, which took them more than 200 years to completely finish. Old St Paul’s was a truly massive cathedral; it was 690 feet long and the spire was 520 feet high (Ewin 3). Throughout the years, the shortcut of walking through part of Old St Paul’s made it a place where things were sold and advertisements were put up; it was a good place to do business (Ewin 4). Because the cathedral was in such a sorry state, James I had to intervene. He had Inigo Jones, the Royal Surveyor, started the restoration process in 1633 (About St Paul’s). After all the ongoing replacements and improvements, the cathedral had many different styles of architecture combined- Romanesque, early and late Gothic, and the Classical style that Jones included (Burman 21).

At this point in history, Old St Paul’s had passed its high point, and consideration diminished for the Cathedral. During the Commonwealth, the Cathedral was little respected; horses were kept in the chancel and a marketplace was in the nave. When Charles II came back to power, he asked Christopher Wren to make a plan for restoration. This plan was accepted in August 1666, but the Great Fire intervened before the plan was put into action (About St Paul’s). At first it seemed like the Cathedral would be safe; however when the roof caught fire, it set off a chain reaction that would destroy Old St Paul’s. The lead from the roof, the timbers, and the masonry crashed to the floor and smashed the vaulting of the crypt (Burman 34). Also, the heat was so intense that the stones at the base exploded (Museum of London- London’s Burning). The Great Fire of 1666 caused incredible damage, and it was a daunting idea to try and rebuild hundreds of buildings in London.

Wren was appointed as Surveyors of the King’s Works to make plans for the rebuilding efforts. One of Wren’s major projects after the fire was, of course, St Paul’s. In 1668, the demolition of the Old St Paul’s began. In the beginning, Wren used gun power to take down the old cathedral. This was an experimental step, but when neighbors complained about the noise and damage it caused, Wren finished the job with a battering ram (About St Paul’s). Christopher Wren submitted two plans for the new St Paul’s Cathedral, but they are rejected and abandoned. Then in 1675, the third plan that Wren created was approved. It took 35 years for the Cathedral to be complete, which was the first English cathedral to be finished in the architect’s lifetime (About St Paul’s). Although he did not always get his way throughout the building process, he visited the Cathedral throughout his life and when he died, he was buried in the Crypt of St Paul’s, his great masterpiece.

An interesting fact about the Cathedral is that it has charged a fee for visitors since 1709, when it cost two pence. However, this high price to enter did not pay for the building. It was financed through a tax on coal that came into the Port of London. The new St Paul’s cost about £50 million in today’s money (About St Paul’s).

When I visited St Paul’s Cathedral, I felt awed at how massive it felt. The architecture was beautiful and I could easily see why this cathedral was considered to be Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. I enjoyed learning about the different stages and adjustments the Cathedral went through and how the set up changed throughout the years. I especially liked the American Memorial Chapel. I also thought it was interesting to learn about who was buried in the Crypt and learn more about their stories and why they were important to the British people. Although St Paul’s is a beautiful building, that is not all it is. It is full of stories and history that have great meaning to those who take the time to learn about them.

Works Cited

Burman, Peter. St. Paul’s Cathedral. London: Bell and Hyman. 1987.

Ewin, E. T. Floyd. The Splendour of St Paul’s. Norwich: Jarrold and Sons Ltd. 1973.

Museum of London- London’s Burning. Museum of London. 09 Jun 2008. <http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LondonsBurning/>.

“About St Paul’s.” St Paul’s Cathedral. Dean and Chapter St Paul's. 16 June 2008. <http://www.stpauls.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=97320F44yHMK9hndcXZBD5sVH4m52Yc0&thelang=001lngdef>

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace got its start when William III and Mary II came to power. Royalty resided at Whitehall Palace, but neither William nor Mary enjoyed living there. Whitehall was not good for William’s health, because he had chronic asthma. This is why in 1689 they bought Nottingham House, which was a Jacobean mansion (Kensington Palace). It was located in Kensington, a much more pleasant place to live. The King commissioned Christopher Wren to improve the House as fast as he could because they were anxious to move in to their new quarters. Even after they took up residence in 1689, additions and improvements were continuously made. The Queen expanded her apartments; the King’s Staircase, Guard Chamber, and King’s Gallery were all added and the Great Court was rebuilt because of a fire (Kensington Palace). Mary contracted smallpox and died at Kensington Palace, the place which was vastly improved by her touch. William also died at the Palace a few years later after a riding accident.

Queen Anne also spent time at Kensington Palace when she ascended to the throne. Although she did not make nearly as many additions to the Palace as Mary did, she did improve the gardens surrounding the Palace. Her major contribution to Kensington Palace is the Orangery which is north of the Palace. The Orangery was meant to be a greenhouse and was also a ‘summer supper house’ and a place for entertainment (Kensington Palace). Both Anne and her husband died at the Palace as well.

The next two reigning monarchs played an important role in the history of Kensington Palace. George I had a celebratory bonfire at the Palace, but on further inspection he decided that the Palace was unsuitable for him. This is why he commissioned William Kent to redesign the rooms. He also did extensive rebuilding, which meant that he could not spend much time there because it was always being in the process of changing things (Kensington Palace). He preferred Hanover to England anyway (Hibbert 147). The refurbishing of the Palace was completed by the time George II came to power. George II spent a lot of time at Kensington Palace, usually about four six months of the year there. During his stay, the Palace acquired many fine pieces of art and furniture. The King’s death signified the last time that Kensington Palace would be the seat of a reigning monarch (Kensington Palace).

Queen Victoria was thoroughly acquainted with Kensington Palace. She was born in there on May 24, 1819 and was even christened in the Cupola Room. Victoria lived at Kensington with her mother until she became Queen of England in 1837. Once she heard the news of her ascension, she immediately moved to Buckingham Palace (Kensington Palace). After becoming Queen, Victoria did not use Kensington Palace much at all; it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. It was in such bad shape that people began to make plans to demolish it and build something else in its place. This is when Victoria stepped in; she is quoted as saying, "while she lived, the palace in which she was born should not be destroyed” (qtd. in Kensington Palace). In 1898 Parliament conceded to pay for restoration efforts so that Kensington Palace could be improved. Queen Victoria was involved in the process of choosing the paintings and exhibits that went into the State Apartments that would be open to the public.

The purpose of Kensington Palace after the reign of Queen Victoria varied through the years. In 1911, the State Apartments became the home of the Museum of London, which had been newly founded (Kensington Palace). The museum moved to another location and then during the First World War, the State Apartments became offices. The Palace suffered heavy damage during World War II. After the damage was repaired, the London Museum moved back to the Palace one last time before they moved out of the palace for good (Kensington Palace). Kensington Palace is still a place of residence for royalty. The most well-known and most recent royalty to stay there was Princess Diana. She stayed there from 1981 to 1997 (Kensington Palace). At her death, Kensington Palace became a place of pilgrimage, a place to remember her and the life she led (Monger and Chandler). Her apartments are not open to visit, but the Palace does have a display of some of her dresses. Kensington Palace has housed years and years of history, both literally as a museum and by the people who have lived there.

Works Cited

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

Kensington Palace. Historic Royal Palaces. 16 Jun 2008. <http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/stories/buildinghistory/default.aspx>.

Monger, George, and Jennifer Chandler. "Pilgrimage to Kensington Palace." Folklore (London, England) 109 (1998): 108.

photo courtesy of Cecily Olsen

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a palace not intended for royalty, but for a war hero. John Churchill had great military experience and in the War for Spanish Succession, he played a significant role. He beat the French at a place called Blindheim or Blenheim; and when he came back to England, he received a hero’s welcome (Nicolson 214). Queen Anne made him the first Duke of Marlborough and rewarded him with her manor of Woodstock, where he could have a house built by any architect he chose. He decided on John Vanbrugh, even though his wife Sarah wanted him to have Christopher Wren design the house (Nicolson 214). In her opinion, Vanbrugh’s design was too elaborate and expensive. Vanbrugh wanted to build a great monument and a beautiful mansion, and was little concerned with the fact that it was going to be a home as well (Duffie et al. 5). The extravagance and ornamentation characteristic of the baroque style proved to be extremely expensive, especially when the couple fell from the good graces of the Queen, who had been paying for the construction of Blenheim Palace but now refused to continue her support (Duffie et al. 5). The Duke decided to pay to finish his house out of his own money. He originally had Vanbrugh come back, but after too many disagreements with the Duchess, he dropped the project so James Moore helped to finish the Palace (Duffie et al. 6). The end product was truly amazing.

A more recent war hero has brought even more attention to Blenheim Palace. On November 30, 1874 Sir Winston Churchill was born in a small room at Blenheim palace (Caulfield 141). This room, just a ways off from the Great Hall, now displays some memorabilia of this great man; his red curls from his childhood along with his siren suit from World War II are both available for visitors to see (Duffie et al. 14). Churchill enjoyed spending time at Blenheim Palace throughout his life. During one of his visits, he had Clementine Hozier come to stay as well. He proposed to her one day while they were sitting at the Temple of Diana on the grounds of the Palace (Duffie et al. 16). Churchill said of these events, “At Blenheim I took two very important decisions: to be born and to marry. I am happily content with the decisions I took on both those occasions” (qtd. in Duffie et al. 14). Later in his life, Blenheim continued to be a place where he visited often; he took up painting and loved to paint the grounds of the Palace (Duffie et al. 17). Blenheim Palace was a place Churchill loved throughout his life.

Blenheim Palace is a huge mansion that also has vast gardens surrounding it. The house itself is three acres which is then surrounded by 2,500 acres of gardens, making it one of the largest private houses in Europe (Caulfield 141). Of the many magnificent rooms at Blenheim is the Great Hall. The Great Hall reaches 67 feet at its highest point and its ceiling is a magnificent painting done by James Thornhill, portraying the first Duke of Marlborough presenting his plan for the Battle of Blenheim (Duffie et al. 8). Vanbrugh designed the Great Hall using heavy stones, massive columns and impressive architecture to make it “dramatic and challenging” (Nicolson 216). Among the other impressive rooms are the Drawing Rooms, the State Rooms, and the Long Library. The Long Library is one room but equal in size to about five rooms. At one end of the library it has a beautiful statue of Queen Anne which Sarah, the first Duchess, commissioned; and at other end of the Library is the grand Willis organ ( Duffie et al. 42). Blenheim Palace is remarkable, and its gardens are also incredible. There are many different types of gardens, such as the Italian Garden, the Secret Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Arboretum. The grounds also have a lake with a bridge. Blenheim Palace, both the building and the grounds are breathtaking.

During my short visit to Blenheim Palace, I went through a little bit of the gardens and toured the house. What I saw of the gardens was really pretty, and I wish that I could have seen more of the different gardens. I really enjoyed learning about the different dukes and duchesses that have lived at Blenheim and how the family still lives in the house today. I liked learning more about Winston Churchill, but from a different perspective than just a military leader during World War II. My trip to Blenheim Palace was highly enjoyable and informative.

Works Cited

Caulfield, Max. “The West Midlands- from Oxford to the Wye.” This Beautiful Britain. London: Marshall Cavendish Books Ltd. 1979.

Duffie, Paul, et al. Blenheim Palace. Norwich: Jarrold Publishing. 2006.

Nicolson, Nigel. The National Trust Book of Great Houses of Britain. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd. 1978.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle has a history which spans millions of years. Its story begins 340 million of years ago when Castle Rock, the site that later would become Edinburgh Castle, was a volcano and lava flowed and hardened. Sedimentary rock covered the volcano until the end of the Ice Ages when all that was left was the core of the volcano (Tabraham 46). There is evidence of human civilization as early as 900 BC. When the Romans came, there was a tribe living on the Rock and this is where the first mention of it appears in the records. The Romans called it “Din Eidyn” which means “the stronghold of Eidyn” (Tabraham 46). Edinburgh is the name that the Angles gave the rock, and this is the name that it has today.

The next important part of Edinburgh Castle’s history happens centuries later. Around 1093 reference is made to an old version of what today is Edinburgh Castle. This royal castle was known as “Castle of Maidens” (Tabraham 48). At this point Queen Margaret was living at the Castle. It was here that she heard of the devastating news that her husband, Malcolm III, was killed. She died soon after she heard the news (Tabraham 48). Her son, David I, had a chapel built and dedicated it to his mother. St. Margaret’s Chapel is the oldest building in the castle. Margaret was canonized in 1250 (Tabraham 19). St. Margaret's memory lives on in the chapel at Edinburgh Castle.The Castle was established as a fortress under David I and was probably made of stone. However, the English were still able to capture the Castle when Edward I invaded in 1296. Then in 1314, Sir Thomas Randolph overtook the Castle by climbing up the northern side of the Castle, which caught the guards unprepared (Tabraham 50). In order to make the Castle not useful to the English, the Castle was taken down. This is the way the Castle stayed, all taken apart, for twenty years. However, when the English conquered the Edinburgh once more in 1335, another quest was needed in order to win back the Castle (Tabraham 50). This was the undertaking of Sir William Douglas. Pretending to be sailors, he and other Scotsmen were allowed into the Castle. They took hold of the Castle and shortly after, David II was restored as King (Tabraham 51). Finally the Castle was out of the hands of the English.

Edinburgh Castle was established as a palace of residence while the Royal Stewarts were in power. This was mainly due to James III. He decided that Edinburgh Castle was going to be his permanent home and had extensive rebuilding done. This helped establish Edinburgh as the place of government; this was where most of the royal documents were issued (Lynch 136). The Castle saw more improvements when James IV came to power; he completed work on the Great Hall, which was designed to be a place where ceremonies took place (Tabraham 32). At this point the Castle also was where the Honours of Scotland were held, along with the state archives and royal artillery. Although these improvements were made to the Castle, most of the royals didn’t actually like to live there. This is why Holyrood Palace became the new place of residence for the royals, except for when it was made necessary by security to be at Edinburgh Castle (Tabraham 53). Edinburgh Castle had served its time as a royal home, but that time was at an end.Mary Queen of Scots was influential in how events would affect Edinburgh Castle for the next few years. She gave birth there to James VI of Scotland who later became James I of England. A year later she returned to the Castle with the Earl of Bothwell, whom she married a few days after arriving at the Castle. The nobles did not like her choice and decided that change needed to be made so they rebelled against her. She had to flee to England to beg Queen Elizabeth for help. While she was gone, the governor of Edinburgh Castle was holding down the fortress on behalf of Mary’s baby son (Tabraham 55). This siege, known as the Lang Siege, ended when Queen Elizabeth lent the besiegers 20 guns, and they started bombarding the Castle. Many of the buildings inside the Castle were damaged and almost destroyed (Tabraham 55). Mary’s fate also ended sadly; her cousin the Queen of England agreed to sign her death warrant (Hibbert 145).

Edinburgh Castle, after that, went through different hands and had different purposes as time progressed. When Oliver Cromwell took over Edinburgh Castle, it became a garrison fortress (Tabraham 56). The only room not affected by this transformation was the Crown Room, which was sealed up in 1707 when the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England was signed. Edinburgh Castle also saw two attempts made by Jacobites to reclaim the throne. These were easily defeated. Then in 1818, the Honours of Scotland were found by Sir Walter Scott. It was decided to put them up for public display, and this caused and influx of visitors to see Edinburgh Castle. This continued as St. Margaret’s Chapel was recognized and the room where James VI of Scotland was born was opened to visitors. In more recent times, Edinburgh Castle started the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and has become famous for that.

Edinburgh Castle was a delightful place to visit. It was hard to imagine what life would have been like to live there, but I definitely learned a lot while I was there. I especially liked the Military exhibits because I knew little about Scotland’s history in that regard. Also, learning about St. Margaret and knowing that the Chapel is the oldest building in Edinburgh Castle was great. As I was walking through the Castle, I could tell why the Royal Stewarts would have decided to move their place of residence; it was really windy up there. Overall, I truly enjoyed my visit to Edinburgh Castle.

Works Cited

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

Lynch, Michael. Scotland A New History. London: Century Ltd. 1991.

Tabraham, Chris. Edinburgh Castle The Official Souvenir Guide. Historic Scotland. 2008.

Cabinet War Rooms/Churchill Museum

The Cabinet War Rooms were restored and opened to the public in 1984, as a branch of the Imperial War Museum (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 19). The Cabinet War Rooms were necessary during the Second World War when Germany was bombing England in order to terrorize her into submission. In 1941, most Europe had been conquered and it was feared that England would be next, especially when the London Blitz started (Chittock). This is when the Cabinet War Rooms would have been most useful because the constant bombing during the Blitz would have made meeting on ground level dangerous. The Cabinet War Rooms had been used for storage in the basement of the Office of Works and the Board of Trade (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 2). Designed to be a “central emergency working refuge” for the members of the War Cabinet and the other Chiefs of Staff in case of an air attack, the Cabinet War Rooms were in these particular buildings because they had an unusually strong structure (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 2). In order to get to the Cabinet War Rooms, one would use the entrance across from St. James’ Park and then take a staircase down to the Rooms (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 5). The Rooms were so effective in being a secret shelter that it seems as though the Nazis had no knowledge of them; the words “Cabinet War Rooms” do not show up in any of the documentation from the Nazis that has been found (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 8). On August 27, 1939, the Cabinet War Rooms became fully operational, which was just in time because the War broke out one week later (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 2).

The Cabinet War Rooms are made up of different rooms that each served specific purposes. For example, Winston Churchill, the Prime Minster during the War, conducted 115 meetings in the Cabinet Room even though he did not like meeting in the shelter (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 5). This room is where the most crucial decisions were made. The Transatlantic Telephone needed its own room. In this room, the Prime Minister and the President of the United States, Roosevelt at the time, could communicate without the enemy being able to listen in to their conversation by using a special scrambler device called Sigsaly to help make their conversations a secret. The Transatlantic Telephone Room was also in disguise; the door had a toilet lock on it that always read “engaged” which made people think that it was the only flushing toilet on the site which was only to be used by the Prime Minister (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 7).

There were also rooms where people could sleep in when it was necessary because of the danger of going outside, although these rooms were built after the worst of the Blitz was already over (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 8). Churchill had his own suite, although he only slept there three times (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 16). Another important room is the room where BBC set up their broadcasting equipment. Churchill gave four broadcasts to the United Kingdom, Europe, and United States from this room (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 11). Another room that was crucial for the planning of the War was the Map Room. This room contains a map that stretches from wall to wall that was used for charting the “voyages of the naval convoys” as well as showing the front lines of the war (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 13). All these rooms helped the Prime Minister and his Cabinet direct the War when the UK was facing dangerous times. The last time that Churchill and his staff met in Cabinet War Rooms was March 28, 1945, the day when the last v-weapon fell on greater London (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 19).

When I visited the Cabinet War Rooms, I could feel the significance that these rooms had on history. The decisions that were made within these quarters affected the outcomes of the War. The people working here would have been extremely influential and necessary to the functioning of the most important tasks relevant to the War. It was interesting to be in the same place that would have been bustling with important activity. It produced the most influential decisions because the Prime Minister and his Cabinet met there. It was amazing to see such an important place in the history of World War II.

The Churchill Museum opened in 2005, and commemorates the life of Winston Churchill. Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace on November 30, 1874 to a politician father and an American mother (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 23). His father pushed him towards a military career, which he pursued with much ambition. After escaping as a prisoner from the Boer War, he came back as a success. He became a Member of Parliament under the Conservative Party in 1900 (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 23). This was the beginning of Churchill’s political career. Throughout the following years he served in many different positions, but of course, his most famous one would be Prime Minister, which he became on May 9, 1939 (Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms 27). His time directing the War as Prime Minister is why Churchill is so well-known. His courage and strong belief in victory, which he portrayed in his speeches, gave people hope and optimism in a situation that was filled with tension and the unknown. He will forever be remembered for his role in World War II.

The Churchill Museum gives people a good summary of Churchill’s life, his ups and his downs. When I visited the Museum, I found that I was able get to know Winston Churchill in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. I could see him as a person who had an enormous weight on his shoulders, and yet he held strong and gave millions of people hope that they needed to carry themselves through the War. His decisions were crucial during the War, and it was fascinating to see his life through the museum.

Works Cited

Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. Imperial War Museum. 2006.

Chittock, George. Guest Lecture. Brigham Young University London Centre, London. 10 Jun 2008.

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

Tower of London

The Tower of London has many centuries worth of historic value. It got its start when William the Conqueror invaded England. The White Tower, which was protected by two Roman walls as well as ditches, was constructed under William the Conqueror (Tower of London). He wanted to have strongholds in London so that he could display his power and authority over the Londoners (Tower of London). Later the fortress was expanded to be twice its original size, when Richard the Lionheart was king. During Kind Edward I’s reign, the Tower was strengthened and became the largest and strongest concentric castle in England (Tower of London). Edward transformed the Tower to have many purposes. The Tower functioned as a prison, a storehouse for keeping goods, a branch of the Royal Mint, and even included “comfortable royal lodgings” so royalty could enjoy staying there (Tower of London).

The Tower of London is probably most famous as being a prison. Prisoners here have not been only scoundrels, but many royals have also been prisoners. For example, after the War of the Roses, Henry VI was held prisoner at the Tower where he ended up dying (Hibbert 99). Young Edward V and his brother were held in the Tower by their uncle and were never heard of again (Hibbert 101). While they may not have been prisoners technically, once they were put in the Tower, they never came back out. Another famous prisoner who was held at the Tower of London is Anne Boleyn. When Henry VIII was getting ready to marry Anne, he had the Tower improved for her particular enjoyment as she was preparing for her coronation. However, when she was accused of adultery, she was taken back to the Tower, but under very different circumstances than her first visit (Tower of London). She was soon after executed for treason against the King. Henry VIII imprisoned other famous people, including another one of his wives, Sir Thomas More, and Bishop Fisher of Rochester (Tower of London).

The Tudor era was also a time where torture was part of the Tower of London. The idea of torture and the Tower of London may sometimes be synonymous; however, torture probably was a rare occurrence (Ashbee 8). Torture had a very specific purpose for the law of proof. It was used during interrogations to gain information. Because of this, there is a lot of documentation on this topic (Ashbee 8). Torture, although used for a short period of time in history, remains one of the most memorable parts of the Tower.

After the Tudors, the Tower of London had a shift in purposes. When Charles I became king, a civil war erupted. The Tower was captured by the Parliamentarians and when Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector, Parliament sold the Crown Jewels that were held in the Tower (Tower of London). However, when Charles II came back to England to be king, the new Crown Jewels were put back on display at the Tower of London. These jewels were attempted to be stolen, but the plan failed when the jewel keeper’s son found the culprits. This escapade did cause the Jewels to be under better security (Tower of London). One of the last times that the Tower of London was seen as a symbol of power was during the Chartist demands for electoral reform. The Chartists never attacked, though the Tower was strengthened in case they did. At this point in history, the focus became more of maintaining the building than making additions to the Tower (Tower of London).

As I visited the Tower, I enjoyed being surrounded by the history that was all around me. I especially liked learning about the stories of various prisoners who stayed there. It made the history seem more real. Also, I liked hearing about the different buildings within the Tower, the purposes behind them, and how they shifted as time passed. The Tower of London seemed to have the essence of historic England; so many monarchs and influential people stayed there, both as rulers and as prisoners. The Tower of London is a crucial part of England’s history. The stories of the Tower are incidentally also the stories of England.

Works Cited

Ashbee, Jeremy. "Torture at the Tower." History Today 53.5 (2003): 8-9.

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

Tower of London. Historic Royal Palaces. 09 Jun 2008. <http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/buildinghistory/default.aspx>.

Museum of London- The Great Fire of 1666

The 1660s had already been difficult for the people living in England. The Great Plague hit hard in 1665, causing thousands of people to suffer. The following year brought no relief in the suffering; in 1666 a devastating fire that lasted five days destroyed much of London and had far reaching effects for rich and poor alike.

The Great Fire originated at Pudding Lane around 1 a.m. on September 2, 1666. It started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner, the king’s baker, most likely because the fire in the oven was not properly put out for the night (Museum of London- London’s Burning). The set up of London made fire a dangerous threat. Most of the houses were made of wood and were crowded next to each other on narrow streets, making it easy for fire to spread. In addition to this problem, there was a strong wind coming from the east, which made the fire spread rapidly through the night. People had to flee their homes, taking what little they could. Many crossed the River Thames and watched as the fire grew bigger and consumed more and more of the city (Museum of London- London’s Burning). John Evelyn, a diarist, described the scene as being “10,000 homes all in one flame” (Museum of London- London’s Burning). The fire grew for days, devouring everything that couldn’t escape. Homes, businesses, and churches were all demolished. St. Paul’s also felt the effects of the fire. The heat was so intense that the stones at the base exploded and the lead on the roof melted (Museum of London- London’s Burning). Still the fire continued.

Although most people concentrated more on escaping the fire than on putting it out, there were many attempts made to control the fire. School boys from Westminster made a valiant effort to put out the fire. Also, the King and his brother, the Duke of York, were among the people who were dousing the fire with buckets of water (Museum of London- London’s Burning). Another method of stopping the fire was put in place by taking down houses near the fire so that it would not have a way to spread more. However, the fire was faster than the workers and it would overtake them before they could take down the houses. After a few days, they decided to use gun powder and blow up some of the houses instead of just trying to take them down manually. Although the explosions scared people, it created a firebreak and it stopped the fire from spreading. These firebreaks were indeed helpful, but the principle reason that the fire died down was mainly because the winds had finally calmed by the fifth day (Museum of London- London’s Burning).

After the fire was over, all the city between the Tower and the Temple was destroyed (Roberts 394). That was about four fifths of the whole city. There were 13,200 homes that were destroyed, leaving thousands of people on the streets with nothing (Museum of London- London’s Burning). Overall, the damage done by the fire cost about ₤10 million to repair (Museum of London- London’s Burning). Because there were so many who were devastated by the fire, the people began looking for someone to blame. The Commons set up a Committee to conduct an investigation to see if it was arson. However, before the investigation was over, a Frenchman by the name of Robert Hubert was tried and hung for the crime. Although he did confess to it, he was most likely innocent, especially since it was discovered later that he arrived in London after the fire began. Nevertheless, Hubert made a convenient scapegoat for the people to blame (Museum of London- London’s Burning). The King said that he felt that the fire was nothing other than the hand of God, the great wind, and the dryness of the season (Museum of London- London’s Burning).

Rebuilding London after the Great Fire turned out to be a long endeavor. Architects and surveyors such as Christopher Wren and were responsible for rebuilding the city. They mapped out the area and established new regulations. Houses were built out of brick, not wood. Some streets were made wider and pavements were added, along with new sewers (Museum of London- London’s Burning). The process of rebuilding lasted a long time, with houses still being staked out in the 1690s. The year 1710 marked the date when the final rebuilding was complete. This final project was St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece (Hibbert 142). The whole rebuilding process lasted for almost fifty years, which proves how destructive the Great Fire truly was.

This is one journal that describes something that I have not been able to see for myself. However, the Museum of London’s exhibit on the Great Fire has helped me gain a better feel for what it would have been like to see the city in flames, knowing that everything was being destroyed. I have a greater sympathy now for the people who lived during that time and I realize just how monumental this event was in English history. The fire was a pivotal event which demanded change for the future, not only in the architecture of the city but also in the lives of the people.

Works Cited

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

Museum of London- London’s Burning. Museum of London. 09 Jun 2008.

Roberts, Clayton, and David Roberts. A History of England. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is found in Canterbury, England but its story begins in Rome. When Pope Gregory the Great saw little Angle children who were slaves, he thought they looked like angels so he wanted to spread Christianity to their homeland (History and Heritage). He sent St. Augustine to Kent so that the Anglo-Saxons could be converted to Christianity (Crotchet, Dotted 373). The Anglo-Saxon king, Ethelbert, was married to a French Princess who was already a Christian. King Ethelbert permitted Augustine to preach to him and his people, and shortly after he was converted to Christianity (Hibbert 32). Consequently, he became the first Christian king in England (Crotchet, Dotted 373). The King gave St. Augustine a house and a church in Canterbury in 597 and was consecrated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Since then, Canterbury Cathedral has been known as a place of worship.

Canterbury Cathedral is most famous for being the site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom. Thomas Becket and King Henry II were on good terms with each other in the beginning of their relationship; Becket was appointed Chancellor of England, which is the King’s chief secretary (Hibbert 63). However, when Becket became Archbishop of Canterbury, his allegiance shifted towards the Pope and away from Henry. This change in loyalty was demonstrated in an argument Becket had with the King about whether a canon should be tried in a civil court after he had been acquitted in an ecclesiastical court (Hibbert 63). Becket and Henry both refused to compromise or agree to the other’s opinion. The argument escalated as Becket, while in exile, threatened to excommunicate Henry and Henry retaliated by taking his property and having the Archbishop of York crown his son as a “partner in kingship” (Hibbert 64). This was taking away the rights and privileges that Becket had as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although Henry allowed Becket to return to Canterbury, there were still bad feelings between them and when Henry was heard saying “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?” four knights took him seriously and went to Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170 where they killed Thomas Becket, thinking it was the king’s wishes (History and Heritage). In 1173, Pope Alexander III canonized the martyr Thomas Becket and the Cathedral quickly became a site for pilgrims to pay their respects (History and Heritage). Among those pilgrims was King Henry who thought it necessary to do “public penance” for the death of Thomas Becket, which he did by allowing the seventy monks at Canterbury to scourge him (Hibbert 65). Although he had been annoyed with Becket while he was alive, he hadn’t meant for the argument to go this far and he honored the death of Becket by making his own pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Canterbury Cathedral was a place for monks to worship and study in the 10^th century. This pattern continued through several centuries and Canterbury Cathedral became “a formal community” for Benedictine monks (History and Heritage). These monks continued to have a home at the monastery until King Henry VIII called for the dissolution of monasteries throughout England. Dissolving the monastery did not mean that the Cathedral would not be looked after however. The Dean and Chapter became responsible for the services held at Canterbury Cathedral (History and Heritage). This is the way that the Cathedral is run today, under the Dean and four Canons.

Repairing and remodeling has always been a part of Canterbury Cathedral’s history. In 1011, the Danes destroyed much of the Cathedral so it had to be rebuilt. This building lasted until 1067 when a fire ruined most of the cathedral and the monastery which Lanfranc, who was the first Norman Archbishop, had to rebuild, although parts of the foundation and walls had remained in tact (Crotchet, Dotted 374). During the Civil War, the Cathedral was damaged by the Puritans, so more restoration efforts were necessary in the 1660. Also, in the 19^th century the North West tower was remodeled because it was rendered as unsafe. During World War II, the Cathedral’s Library and Precincts were damaged by enemy bombs, which led to more repairing of the Cathedral (History and Heritage). Though most of the Cathedral has been rebuilt at one time or another, this fact does not diminish its significance. It is not only a display of beautiful architecture, but it is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Canterbury Cathedral has remained a place with centuries of history tied to it.

As I visited Canterbury Cathedral, I felt the quiet awe that surrounds this place of worship. Many people have made a pilgrimage to be where I was standing. The reverence for the martyrdom that so many people feel when they come here was obvious. I could sense the importance of the Cathedral in the lives of so many people. The beautiful architecture was a good symbol of the fact that so much history has passed here. Kings and saints buried here, memorialized for visitors to pay respects. Canterbury Cathedral was a wonderful place to visit.

Works Cited

Crotchet, Dotted. "Canterbury Cathedral." The Musical Times 47.760 (1906): 373-4.

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.

“History and Heritage.” Canterbury Cathedral. 2 June 2008.

< http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/history/history.aspx>.

Hampton Court

Hampton Court is situated in Herefordshire, England. It is a palace that has gone through the hands of many important people, including centuries of monarchs. It is home to many historic events that have helped shape the course of events in England. Although once a private residence to royals, it is now open to the public to tour and enjoy the rich history that one can find there.

The beginnings of Hampton Court Palace started with a group called the Knights Hospitallers in 1236 (Hampton Court Palace). At this point, Hampton Court was just a manor and was used as a place where produce could be stored and accounts kept. The Knights Hospitallers gave Cardinal Woolsey a lease to the manor in 1514. Cardinal Woolsey made numerous improvements to the place: he added his own private quarters, three new suites for King Henry VIII and his family, and a huge courtyard that could house up to forty guests (Hampton Court Palace). Cardinal Woolsey’s pretentious palace exemplified his extravagant ways; many people felt that he was upstaging even the King’s palace with these additions. However, when Cardinal Woolsey fell from the good graces of the King Henry, he lost Hampton Court Palace (Delderfield, Eric R. 64). This is when King Henry VIII took over the palace and started making his own additions. Henry made the palace even more lavish than it had been. Along with re-doing his own quarters at least six times, he added tennis courts, bowling alleys, gardens, a hunting park, kitchens covering 36,000 square feet, a fine chapel, and the Great Hall, which was a huge dining room (Hampton Court Palace). All of Henry’s wives stayed at Hampton Court at some point, along with each of his three children.

The next few royals kept Hampton Court as a place where the monarchs could entertain guests and hold meetings. Queen Elizabeth used it to welcome foreign delegations (Hampton Court Palace). King James I used the palace to hold what is known as the Hampton Court Conference of 1604, where he refused to comply with the demands of radical Protestants who wanted reforms in the Anglican Church. He did, however, agree to a new translation of the Bible which became known as the King James Version of the Bible (Hibbert 125).

Hampton Court has not only been a place for enjoyment and meetings, but has even acted as a type of prison. During the Civil War, Charles I was captured by his enemies and taken to Hampton Court where he was kept as a prisoner. For three months he was held in Hampton Court, although he was treated well while he was there (Hampton Court Palace). He did escape once; however, he was recaptured and later executed.

The next major change to Hampton Court Palace itself happened when King William III and Queen Mary II came to power. They decided that Hampton Court needed to be remodeled, so they hired Christopher Wren and later his deputy, William Talman, to rebuild the palace (Hampton Court Palace). This is probably the most significant change to Hampton Court that can be observed today. Wren and Talman changed the east and south facades from the Tudor fashion into the grand baroque style that is seen in the Formal Gardens today (Hampton Court Palace).

The purposes for the palace changed when Charles III came to power. The royal family had used Hampton Court as their residence until Charles III decided that he did not want to live there. That is when the palace was opened up to ‘grace-and-favour’ residents who were allowed to live in the palace without paying rent because of the great service they had given to the Crown or their country (Hampton Court Palace).

Restoration efforts have been a part of the history of Hampton Court as well. Between 1838 and 1851, the Great Hall, the Great Gatehouse and the whole of the West Front were ‘re-Tudorised’ (Hampton Court Palace). With a fire in 1986, more restoration efforts were made, this time to William III’s King’s Apartments (Hampton Court Palace). Since then, other restoration and preservation efforts have been made so that visitors may get an authentic feel for how Hampton Court has been throughout history.

Hampton Court Palace was a magnificent place to visit. It is rich in history, which I truly appreciated when walking through the palace. So many people have lived there that it seemed like the halls were alive with stories. The grounds and gardens are beautiful, which also have been influenced by the people who have lived in the Palace, such as William and Mary. I enjoyed my visit to Hampton Court and seeing the place where so many influential people have lived. It is impossible to escape the history that accompanies such a place as Hampton Court.

Works Cited

Delderfield, Eric R. Kings and Queens of England & Great Britain. London: Greenwich

Editions, 1996.

Hampton Court Palace. Historic Royal Palaces. 24 May 2008.

<http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/sightsandstories/buildinghistoryHamptonCourtPalace.aspx>.

Hibbert, Christopher. The Story of England. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1992.