Westminster Abbey: When was it built, who is buried there and which royal weddings took place there?

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Jessica Taylor21 February 2019

Westminster Abbey is perhaps London’s most famous church (although St Pauls Cathedral is also a close contender).

As well as being the site of many royal weddings – and, indeed, burials – the Abbey is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But what makes the stunning building so special, and why is it such a tourist hotspot? Future London takes a closer look.

When was Westminster Abbey built?

The church was first founded more than 1,000 years ago in 960 A.D, under King Edgar and St Dunstan. It was then established as King Edward’s Royal Palace in 1040 when he called it the “west minster.”

Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey

King Edward’s Abbey lasted as it was for several centuries until King Henry III decided to rebuild it in a Gothic style. It was consecrated once again in 1269.

Who is buried at Westminster Abbey?

Several monarchs of the past have been buried at Westminster Abbey, including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Charles II.

Other notable British figures from history are buried in the Nave of the Abbey such as Clement Atlee, Neville Chamberlain, Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton.

Westminster Abbey also contains several memorials for famous historical figures who are buried elsewhere, including Jane Austen, Martin Luther King Jr and Noel Coward.

Royal weddings at Westminster Abbey

As well as being the home of coronations for every monarch since William the Conquerer, it has also been the place where future monarchs have been married, with some of the most famous royal weddings taking place there.

In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh tied the knot at the Abbey, six years before she took the throne.

In more recent memory, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

Surprisingly, Princess Diana and Prince Charles chose to marry at St Paul’s Cathedral instead of the Abbey in 1981.

Poets’ Corner

This section of the Abbey is dedicated to the graves and memorials of poets, playwrights and novelists throughout British history.

The first writer to be buried in Poets’ Corner was Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, in 1400.

Since then, Edmund Spenser, known for his Spenserian Sonnet, has been buried next to Chaucer while other writers including C.S. Lewis have been memorialised there.

How to get tickets to Westminster Abbey

Tickets to visit Westminster Abbey are about £20. To book a slot to visit the Abbey, click here.