EducaƟon Department
Most people look up at the beautiful windows and high vaulted ceilings of Westminster Abbey. Whilst we hope you do this today, why not also spend some time looking beneath your feet and finding out some interesting things that would otherwise go unnoticed? As you enter the Abbey by the Great West Doors you will see
many memorials laid into the floor. You may walk over all of
them except the one in front of you, surrounded by poppies.
Make your way over to this memorial. Ask a Marshal in a red
gown to open
the rope for you.
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The most famous grave in the Abbey is that of the Unknown Warrior. It symbolises all who have lost their lives at war. It is believed that the idea for this memorial came from an army chaplain serving on the Why are poppies used as symbols of remembrance ? Poppies were one of the few things that grew on the
battlefields of Flanders.
The red poppies signify the blood that was lost.
Why do you think it is so important that no one knows who the warrior is? The body of the Unknown Warrior may be from any of the
three services, Army, Navy or Air Force, and from any part of
the BriƟsh Isles, Dominions or Colonies and represents all
those who have no other memorial.
To the right of the grave of the Unknown Warrior (if you have your back to the Great West
Doors) is a memorial to Robert and Olave Baden Powell. It is in the south west corner of the
Nave.
Which worldwide organisations for young people did Robert and Olave Baden Powell form? Founder of the worldwide Scouting and Guiding Movement.
1 Return to the centre of the Nave . Stand by the Grave of the Unknown Warrior and
face the Great West Doors. Look down at your feet at the memorials on the floor.
Which two men had the job of Prime Minister three times each? 1. Ramsay Macdonald, 1924, 1929 and 1931
2. Stanley Baldwin, 1923, 1924 and 1935 Can you find the memorial to the British Prime Minister who famously said ‘Never was so much owed, by so many, to so few…?’ (Clue: he was referring to the pilots of the Bat‐
tle of Britain). What was his name? Winston Churchill
There are several interesting brass memorials in the Nave. Many show beautiful figures of
those buried beneath. On the North Side of the Nave find the memorial to Robert Thomas
Wilson. He is depicted dressed as a knight with his wife by his side.
How may children did Robert and his wife have? 13! They can be seen on the brass plaque
Choose your favourite brass in the Nave and sketch it in the space below. There are quite a few in the centre of the Nave. Monum
Englan ental Brasses
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2 Make your way down the aisle and around the altar.
There are some important scientists either buried or commemorated here. The most famous is Sir Isaac Newton. Write down the names of those scientists buried or commemorated near him. You can look them up later to find out what they discovered. William Herschel (Astronomer), Charles Darwin (Naturalist), Howard Florey (Bacteriologist)
These memorial stones are by the windows.
Michael Faraday (Physicist and Chemist), Ernest Rutherford (Chemist and Physicist)
These memorial stones are nearer the altar.
ing
Walk under the arch and into the Quire. Stand in the cen‐
t point d,
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with th
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tre of the black and white chequered floor and
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The Cosmati pavement was made over 700 years ago during the reign of King Henry III. It is made from coloured glass and stones. Why do you think so much effort and money went into this floor? (Clue: who might sit here? When?) It was laid down in 1268 by order of Henry III
who had started re‐building Edward the Con‐
fessor’s Abbey in the new Gothic style in
1245. It has been used since the reign of Hen‐
ry III for the coronation of the monarch. The
geometric design represents the
perfection of God’s plan for the world and
was built for God’s glory.
3 Leave the Cosmati pavement and turn right to follow the Ambulatory
around behind the High Altar.
Many of the memorial plaques on the floor have become very faded and faint. It is difficult to read many of the inscriptions. The floor is also uneven. Why do you think this might be? Clue: the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor lies here. For hundreds of years, the shrine of St Edward has been a place of pilgrimage to large
numbers of people from around the world and it remains so today. Large numbers of
people walking over the memorial stones and floor over centuries have worn it away. Also
the dragging of heavy monuments and stones across the floor has caused damage in the
past.
Make your way to Henry VII’s Chapel look
at the chequered floor. In front of the
grand tomb of Henry VII is the spot where
his son, Henry VIII should have been
buried. Look for an area of chequered
paving in the middle of the floor which is
different from the rest. In the end, Henry
VIII wanted to be buried at Windsor with
his third wife.
Which three monarchs are buried near the altar? (Find their names on the chequered floor) Edward VI, George II and Queen Caroline (wife
of George II)
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OUT o have f the 4 As you leave Henry VII’s Chapel you will go down some steps. Turn to your
left into St. Nicholas’s Chapel.
During the Middle Ages a finger of St. Nicholas was kept here along with some other relics! Find the brass marking the tomb of a knight. It belongs to Sir Humphrey Stanley who died in 1505. Draw lines to label the parts of a knight’s armour below. Gauntlet
Helmet
Sabatons
On leaving St. Nicholas’s Chapel, turn left and head down to ‘Poet’s Corner’ in the south
transept.
Here many famous writers and poets are buried and remembered. Find the tombs of Robert Browning, Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Edward Lear. Complete the following famous quotes: “Oh to be in England now that April’s there” (Robert Browning) “The Owl and the pussy‐cat went to sea in a beautiful pea ‐green boat” (Edward Lear) “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” (Lord Tennyson) Write down the names of some other famous people whose names are written on the floor. You can look them up later. Lewis Carroll, George Eliot, Edward lear, Dylan Thomas, Henry James, Charles Dickens, Robert Browning,
Poets of the first World War including: Robert Graves, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon. (plus many others)
There are toilets at Poet’s Corner. To continue, turn left to exit the Abbey and out into the
Cloisters. Follow the arrow on the ground and look out for the Chapter House on your left.
5 Exit the Abbey into the Cloisters, this is where the monks who lived at
Westminster Abbey when it was first built used to spend much of their
time.
One of the finest example of medieval floor tiles in the country is to be found in the
Chapter House. The designs were created by pressing
the pattern
T
h
e Clois
into the tile and then filling it up with light coloured
ter
What is the significance of the three lions you see on the tiles? (Clue: Think of football shirts!) The three lions represent England. They were
used by King Richard I as a symbol of England
and have been used ever since.
What is the name of the mythical creature that is half man, half horse also seen on the tiles? Centaur
Draw some of the pictures on the tiles. 6 s date
When
ba
m
would onks lived a ck to the 13t
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t
The Ch ave used th the Abbey century.
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mornin e read to th e’ of St. Bene eetings.
e mon
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ks here dict
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As you leave of the Chapter House, turn left into the cloisters and then turn
right. Just on the corner look out for the very large black stone dedicated to
the monks who lost their lives in 1348.
What terrible disease did they die from? The Black Death
How many of them are buried under the stone? 26
Nearby, just under the stone seat, find the very old and worn
effigies. They show medieval abbots of Westminster Abbey. One of the figures is wearing a mitre (a special hat for an abbot or bishop).
n
of a person o
Effigy: image tomb.
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the top of th
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a monastery.
Choose one of the figures and sketch it below. What might it have been like for the monks living at the Abbey 800 years ago? Think of three things that you have at home that they would not have had then. 1. no electric light (only candles)
2.no television/radio/computers. Monks spent a lot of time reading and praying
3. no refrigerators (food had to be spiced or herbs used to mask the taste, if it was
going off)
We hope you have enjoyed your visit. Please follow signs for the exit to leave
by the Great West Doors.
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