Brief Description
Westminster Palace, rebuilt from the year 1840 on the site of important medieval remains, is a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture. The site – which also comprises the small medieval Church of Saint Margaret, built in Perpendicular Gothic style, and Westminster Abbey, where all the sovereigns since the 11th century have been crowned – is of great historic and symbolic significance.
Westminster Palace, rebuilt from the year 1840 on the site of important medieval remains, is a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture. The site – which also comprises the small medieval Church of Saint Margaret, built in Perpendicular Gothic style, and Westminster Abbey, where all the sovereigns since the 11th century have been crowned – is of great historic and symbolic significance.
Palais de Westminster, l'abbaye de Westminster et l'église Sainte-Marguerite
Reconstruit à partir de 1840 autour de remarquables vestiges médiévaux, le palais de Westminster est un exemple éminent, cohérent et complet du style néogothique. Avec la petite église Sainte-Marguerite, de style gothique perpendiculaire, et la prestigieuse abbaye dans laquelle furent couronnés tous les souverains britanniques depuis le XIe siècle, il présente une signification historique et symbolique importante.
قصر ويستمنستر
أعيد بناء قصر ويستمنستر منذ عام 1840 حول آثار رائعة من القرون الوسطى، وهو مثال هام ومتكامل للطراز القوطي الجديد، كما انه يحمل معنى تاريخي ورمزي هام بفضل كنيسة سانت مارغريت الصغيرة ذات الطراز القوطي العمودي الخطوط والدير الرائع الذي كلّل فيه مجمل الملوك البريطانيين منذ القرن الحادي عشر.
Source: UNESCO/BPI
威斯敏斯特宫殿和教堂以及圣玛格丽特教堂
在重要的中世纪遗迹原址上于1840年重建的威斯敏斯特宫殿是新哥特式建筑的典型。这里还包括圣玛格丽特教堂，这是一座小型的直角哥特式风格的中世纪教堂。威斯敏斯特教堂具有重要的历史意义和象征意义，从11世纪起历代国王都在此举行加冕仪式。
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Вестминстерский дворец, Вестминстерское аббатство и церковь Cент-Маргарет (Лондон)
Вестминстерский дворец, возводившийся начиная с 1840 г. на месте значительных более ранних сооружений средневековья, стал выдающимся примером неоготической архитектуры. Объект также включает находящуюся рядом маленькую средневековую церковь Сент-Маргарет, построенную в стиле перпендикулярной готики, а также Вестминстерское аббатство – место коронации всех монархов Англии начиная с XI в. Аббатство имеет большое историческое и символическое значение.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
Palacio y abadía de Westminster e iglesia de Santa Margarita
Reconstruido a partir de 1840 en torno a importantes vestigios medievales, el palacio de Westminster es un ejemplo eminente, coherente y completo del estilo neogótico. Este monumento forma un conjunto de gran significado histórico y simbólico con la célebre abadía de su mismo nombre –en la que han sido coronados todos los soberanos británicos desde el siglo XI– y la pequeña iglesia medieval de Santa Margarita, de estilo gótico perpendicular.
Source: UNESCO/ERI
ウェストミンスター宮殿、ウェストミンスター大寺院及び聖マーガレット教会
source: NFUAJ
© Tim Schnarr
Statement of Significance
Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret’s Church together encapsulate the history of one of the most ancient of parliamentary monarchies of present times and the growth of parliamentary and constitutional institutions.
In tangible form Westminster Abbey is a striking succession of the successive phases of English Gothic art and the inspiration of the work of Barry and Pugin on the Palace of Westminster.
The Palace of Westminster illustrates in colossal form the grandeur of constitutional monarchy and the principle of the bicameral parliamentary system, as envisaged in the 19th century, constructed by English architectural reference to show the national character of the monument.
The Palace is one of the most significant monuments of neo-Gothic architecture, as an outstanding, coherent and complete example of neo-Gothic style.
Westminster Hall is a key monument of the Perpendicular style and its admirable oak roof is one of the greatest achievements of medieval construction in wood.
Westminster is a place in which great historical events have taken place which have shaped the English and British nation.
The church of St Margaret, a charming perpendicular style construction, continues to be the parish church of the House of Commons and is an integral part of the complex.
Criterion (i): Westminster Abbey is a unique artistic construction representing a striking sequence of the successive phases of English Gothic art.
Criterion (ii): Other than its influence on English architecture during the Middle Ages, the Abbey has played another leading role by influencing the work of Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin in Westminster Palace, in the “Gothic Revival” of the 19th century.
Criterion (iv): The Abbey, the Palace, and St Margaret’s illustrate in a concrete way the specificities of parliamentary monarchy over a period of time as long as nine centuries. Whether one looks at the royal tombs of the Chapterhouse, the remarkable vastness of Westminster Hall, of the House of Lords, or of the House of Commons, art is everywhere present and harmonious, making a veritable museum of the history of the United Kingdom.
Long Description
Westminster Abbey, the Palace and St Margaret's illustrate in a concrete way the specificities of parliamentary monarchy over nine centuries. Whether one looks at the royal tombs or the chapter house, the remarkable vastness of Westminster Hall, of the House of Lords or of the House of Commons, art is everywhere present and harmonious, making it a veritable museum of the history of the United Kingdom. Westminster Abbey is a unique artistic construction representing a striking sequence of the successive phases of English Gothic art. In addition to its influence on English architecture during the Middle Ages, the abbey has played another leading role by influencing the work of Barry and Pugin at Westminster Palace, in the 'Gothic Revival' of the 19th century.
On 16 October 1834, a fire almost completely destroyed the old Westminster Palace. Since 1547, it had been the seat of regular parliamentary assemblies. Previously, it was the principal residence of the kings of England, from Edward the Confessor to Henry VIII. The construction of a new Westminster Palace by Sir Charles Barry and A. W. N. Pugin began in 1835.
The seat of Parliament, which includes to the south of a central tower, the House of Lords, and to the north the House of Commons, illustrates in colossal proportions the grandeur of the constitutional monarchy and the principle of the bicameral system.
Its facade, situated along the Thames, is 266 m long; the Victoria Tower is to the south, and the Clock Tower (Big Ben) to the north. The ensemble is constructed in the Gothic Tudor style, so as to show, by a deliberately English historical reference, the national character of the monument. The construction is grouped around some precious vestiges of medieval times, the main three of which are Westminster Hall (rebuilt in 1394-99 by Henri Yevele, and a key monument of Perpendicular style), the chapel of St Mary of the Crypt and the Jewel Tower.
The new Westminster Palace is an outstanding, coherent and complete example of neo-Gothic style, with the magnificent interiors of the Royal Gallery, House of Lords, Central Lobby, House of Commons, library, apartments, etc. The palace is also a vivid symbol of one of the oldest parliamentary institutions in the world. Victoria Tower holds 3 million archival documents, including all Acts of Parliament since 1497.
Westminster Abbey, where all the kings of England have been crowned since 1066, is inseparable from the parliamentary history of the kingdom and the throne is an obvious symbol. Prior to 1547, when the king granted the Commons the chapel of St Stephen, they had no seat in the palace and held their meetings in the abbey.
St Margaret's, a charming Gothic construction, continues to be the parish church of the House of Commons.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
