Westminster Hall

Westminster Hall, which is the oldest surviving building within the Palace of Westminster, was built as a Great Hall for William II. The foundations were laid in 1097 and the building was completed by 1099. At that time it was the largest hall in England, and possibly Europe. During its early history, the main use of the hall was for feasts and banquets. William II held the Whitsun feast in the hall on its completion in 1099. The earliest coronation banquets were those of Prince Henry in 1170 and Richard I of England in 1189. There were banquets when the king's Great Council met, and to mark other important occasions. Henry III provided feasts for poor people in the hall, the only king to…

The hall is notable for its hammerbeam roof, which was commissioned by Richard II in 1393. It was built by the royal carpenter, Hugh Herland, and is considered "the greatest creation of medieval timber architecture" creating a single huge open space, with a dais at the end. Richard's master builder Henry Yevele retained the original dimensions, refacing the walls, with fifteen life-size statues of kings placed in niches. The rebuilding had been begun by King Henry III in 1245, but by Richard's time had been dormant for over a century. Included in Richard's renovations are repetitions of his favourite heraldic badge – a White Hart, chained, and in an attitude of rest – which is repeated…