Westminster Abbey -5 Facts You Didn’t Know About This Icon of a Building!

Everybody knows about the Westminster Abbey in London, who doesn’t it’s a true icon of the city! However here are a few facts that not many people not about.

‘Westminster Abbey’ Isn’t Even Its Official Name

Westminster Abbey | Image Courtesy: By lacihobo (Own work) [<a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GFDL</a> or <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0">CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0</a>], <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AWestminster_Abbey.jpeg">via Wikimedia Commons</a> — Westminster Abbey | Image Courtesy: By lacihobo (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The real or official name of it is “The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster”, but it doesn’t operate like a normal church that reports to the hierarchy of the Church of England. Situated in the very heart of the city in a location that’s easily accessible from many a Belgravia hotel in London the likes of the COMO The Halkin, London; the abbey was named as a special “Royal Peculiar” around 1560. This means that it is a church that’s directly responsible to the Sovereign.

Its Home to a Lot of Dead People!

Westminster Abbey | Image Courtesy: By Herry Lawford from London, UK (Westminster Abbey) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

There are more than 3300 people who are either commemorated or buried at the Westminster Abbey! Some of the celebrities who are buried here include Isaac Newton, King Henry V and the great Charles Dickens.

It’s One of the Most “Happening” Places in London

Prince and Princes | Image Courtesy: By Robbie Dale (Flickr: All smiles) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>], <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAll_smiles_Wedding_of_Prince_William_of_Wales_and_Kate_Middleton.jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a> — Prince and Princes | Image Courtesy: By Robbie Dale (Flickr: All smiles) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The abbey has been the venue for so many events, including 39 coronations and 17 royal weddings! One of the weddings that took place here was that of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

Very Interesting Shadows…

Shadows | Image Courtesy: By Feral Arts (Parliament House CanberraUploaded by Parkes) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0">CC BY 2.0</a>], <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AParliament_House%2C_Canberra%2C_entrance_with_shadows_(3329600623).jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a> — Shadows | Image Courtesy: By Feral Arts (Parliament House CanberraUploaded by Parkes) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The Westminster Bridge that links the Westminster Abbey from one side and Lambeth on the east side has a cut out motif that features hundreds of little shamrock-shaped holes of three equally sized leaves. It looks quite innocent but when the sun lies low in the sky towards the west, it casts a shadow on the bridge that’s…well…quite interesting.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+