Sunday, September 11, 2016

Westminster Abbey - UK

Four different cards for the very same abbey, the world famous Westminster Abbey.  
The 1st of these 4 cards is an american official card, the 2nd was sent a few weeks ago by Lurdes and the last 2 cards were bought by me. 

 Jarrold Publishing, Norwich
 US-3230274, sent by Manfred.
Westminster Abbey, located near the Houses of Parliament, is more a historical site than a religious site. Since 1066 every royal coronation, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII, has taken place in this church.
On the back of the card: the choir; the west front; window in the Royal Air Force Chapel; angels in the Henry VII Chapel; the south face of the abbey; the grave of the Unknown Warrior.  

 © J. Salmon LTD
The abbey also serves as the burial ground for numerous politicians, sovereigns and artists. The abbey is stuffed with tombs, statues and monuments. Many coffins even stand upright due to the lack of space. In total approximately 3300 people are buried in the church and cloisters. Some of the most famous are Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone.

A church stood here already in the eight century but the history of the current abbey starts in 1050, when King Edward The Confessor decided to build a monastery. Only a small part of this Norman monastery, consecrated in 1065, survived. 

Most of the present building dates from 1245 to 1272 when Henry III decided to rebuild the abbey in the Gothic style. The building was later significantly expanded: the Chapel of Henry VII was added between 1503 and 1512, while the two West Front Towers date from 1745. The youngest part of the abbey is the North entrance, completed in the nineteenth century. - in: http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/westminsterabbey.htm

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