history of the Palace of Westminster began more than nine years ago, when on the orders of King Edward (in 1042) was built this building.If you wish to visit the oldest part of the castle, which has been preserved from those times (Westminster Hall), is on a tour should go from 6 August to mid-September, when working in this room of parliament (and sit it out there for many generations, from the thirteenthcentury) are on vacation.
rest of the Palace of Westminster such long-term existence is not different, becausein the 40s of the 19th century almost all of the building was destroyed, and during the Second World War, renovated in 1888, the palace was subjected to massive bombing, which also led to the loss of many parts of the building.From the old quarters still survived only Gem Tower, which was rebuilt in the fourteenth century to store the coins and jewels Edward III.
Many people in the world famous watch tower of the Palace of Westminster (dedicated to St. Stephen), which carries the name Big Ben is the hallmark of London and the UK as a whole.First Big Ben bell called heavy (weighing about 16 tons), but then his name came to be called the tower.
Besides bells are a clock dial with a diameter of about 9 meters.At the time of its inception, the clock mechanism was considered an engineering feat, sinceI had a high precision (deviation of not more than one second per day in either direction).After the bombing of German aircraft, this value increased to two seconds, so progress on the harmonization of the pendulum clock (four meters long) is one penny coin.
Modern appointment Westminster - to be the seat of the two chambers of Parliament.In the House of Lords can see many old works of famous artists who decorated this room over the centuries.It is also interesting to know that the Speaker (the Lord Chancellor) is not sitting in a chair, and a bag of hair, which once exported to Britain around the world.Therefore, it can be argued that this country really cares for its traditions.
House of Commons Palace of Westminster is a bit more modest.But here it is also permeated by history.For example, the opposition party is always sitting on the chairs on the left side, between the rows of pews laid line with an intermediate distance of two lengths of the sword (to members of parliament could not reach each other machetes during the debate in the past century).At the meeting of the Chamber may reach the audience and the press, for which there is space on the balconies.
Palace of Westminster, pictures of which are presented in the article, despite their large size (about 1.2 thousand. Rooms, hundreds of stairs, five kilometers of corridors and almost a dozen courtyards), looks easily and gracefully, thanks to special architectural solutions.This effect is achieved by vertical lines, towers, large windows, allowing the building for many centuries to decorate the Thames and attracts many tourists every year.
