Milford chronicle., 1885-02-06
WEsTMINsTER PALACE.
The Legislative Halls OF EnsIaud-A Nota.
bic Structure on Historic Site.

Westminster Palace, the assembly,
place OF tho British Parliament, stands
on a huge granite terrace on the left or
northern bank of the Thames, between
that river and Westminster Abbey, and
Just above Westminster Bridge. 1t is
IN the western part of the metropolis,
near the Treasury, the Horse Guards.
Oharing Gross, st. Jamesjs Park aud
Palace, Pail Mall and Trafalgar Square,
Further up the river is Millbank Prison.
and on the opposite bank gre the great
St Thomas's Hospital and Lambeth
Palace. The building occupies the site
OF the old palace which was DESTROYED
by fire October 16, 1884, and covers
about eight acres of ground. It has a
river front Of 900 feet, and contains one
hundred stairWRys, !, 100 apartments and /
two miles of Railways. Its foundation
was laid April 81, 1S40. The Hall of |
the House OF Lords was finished in |
April, 1917, and the House Of Commons /
IN February, 1852 Its cost has been |
more than SIS, 8,OO0OO0
The hall of the House Of Lords is
probably the most splendid legislative
chamber in the world. It is 80 feet
long, 45 wide and 45 high. The house
is lighted by twelve lofty windows, six
on either side, each with eight compart-
ments for figures. The windows are all
nlled with stained glass, representing
the Kings and Queens from William the
ConquerOr to William the ~. At each
end Of the House are thres archways.
corresponding in size and mouldiugs to
the windows. It's walls and ceiling are
richly gilded and freseoed Among the
paintings are the Spirit of Justice, and I
the Spirit Of Chivalry; Edward III. con- t
lerring the Order Of the Garter upon Q
the Black Prince; the Baptism Of Ethel q
per-. and the Prince of Wales Com
mitted .,g,s,s Prison for his Assault on a
Judge Gascoiss1Seess In inches between F
he windows are statues oil tiie9 e.9g3,gllleeteen q
1arons who forced King John to sign + /
ne Magma Charta. In this room are
ne Queens throne, the Prince of u
Haies chair, and the woolsack seat of
ne Lord Chancellor. The windows are
Illed with rich stained glass and at night b.
re lighted from outside. In this hall
he Queen opens Parliament, entering tv
he Palace through the Victoria tower
nd passing through her robing room.
here are Dyees famous fresco paint l.,
lgs OF scenes from the history OF Arthur " "
nd Guinevere, the Victoria gallery, 100 ~ ~
et long, and the Prince of Wales's n.
'om, to her seat on the throne. "
The Chamber Of the House OF Com -
ons IS less gorgeously furnished than
lat Of the Lords, and is IS feet long. ua
wide and 40 high. It occupies the ~ ~
le OF that famous old st. Stephens W
al, where the House met in the days -
Burke and Pitt and Sheridan. The W.
chair is at the north end and ~
ere are galleries all around. There is gve g
new st. Stephens Hall in the palace. "
the site Of the old St. Stephens Bl'
APPEL which contains twelve statues of
lslrlous statesmen. Another notable
artment is Westminster Hall, a mon acti
T room 29O feet long, 6S wide and 10 the
%, with not pillar to support the g
te expanse Of its richly carved oaken dres
i. 1t occupies the site of the ancient lool
OF the royal palace, and until lately "
3 occupied by the highest law courts &"
by Henry III. in 1924. At "
eastern corner of the hall staircase whit
Is TO the crypt beneath and adjoining did
House Of Lords. This crypt. in &"
oh one of the explosions occurred treai
entity, IS the sole remaining relic of left
old palace. 1t is a low. vaulted the
mber with many columns, measures man
feet long, % wide and 90 high, and
lately been redtted and used as &c
APPEL. siste
Hall is in the side Of the 81
ce next to Westminster Abbey. In popI
end is the House of Lords. "E
the Commons are in the northeast very
The Victoria tower, containing mucl
royal entrance, is at the southwest "Y
er, and is 70 feet square and $40 put a
At the northeast corner, abut- and i
on Westminster Bridge, is the clock you {
r, 40 feet square and 318 high, with Sol
dials near the top, each 30 feet that
IS. In this tower hang the great
Of which Ben, the biggest Of all. aNi
ns eight tons. From the central IN +be
on of the palace rises a pointed @H al
go feet in diameter and 800 feet fp
It stands above the octagonal deo5
al hall of the palace, and is sup '''SI; OK.
d by the groined ceiling without a ct
, pillar. -.