Within, the Abbey is a superb example of the pointed style. The body of the church is remarkably uniform, because, although the building of the new nave was continued with intermissions from the 14th century until Tudor times, the Early English de sign in the eastern part was carried on. The choir, with its radiat ing chapels, plainly follows French models. Exquisite ornament is seen in the triforium arcade. and between some of the arches in the transept are figures, specially finely carved though much mutilated, known as the censing angels. Henry VII.'s chapel replaces an earlier Lady chapel, and is the most remarkable building of its period. It comprises a nave with aisles, and an apsidal eastward end formed of five small radiating chapels. A splendid series of carved oak stalls lines each side of the nave, and above them hang the banners of the Knights of the Bath. The fan-traceried roof, with its carved stone pendants, is ex quisite.
The choir stalls in the body of the church are modern. The reredos is by Scott, with mosaic by Salviati.
From William the Conqueror onward every sovereign has been crowned in the Abbey except ing Edward V. The coronation chairs stand in the Confessor's chapel. That in use dates from the time of Edward I., and con tains beneath its seat the stone of Scone, on which the Scottish kings were crowned. It is of Scottish origin, but tradition identifies it with Jacob's pillow at Bethel. Here also are kept the sword and shield of Edward III., still used in the corona tion ceremony. The second chair was made for Mary, consort of William III. Subsequent to the Conquest many kings and queens were buried here, from Henry III. to George II. A part of the south transept is famed under the name of the Poets' Corner. The north transept contains many monuments to states men, and the abbey is crowded with tombs and memorials of famous British subjects, the custom of burial here being tradi tionally linked with the presence of the shrine of Edward the Confessor. The burial of "The Unknown Warrior" in the centre of the nave after the World War is a notable commemoration of the sacrifice made by the people in that war. A number of un distinguished persons also have their tombs in the Abbey.
The monastery was dissolved in 5539, and Westminster was then erected into a bishopric, but only one prelate, Thomas Thurleby, held the office of bishop. In 1553 Mary again appointed an abbot, but Elizabeth reinstated the dean, with twelve prebendaries. Of the conventual buildings, the cloisters are of the 13th and 14th centuries. On the south side of the southern walk remains of a wall of the refectory are seen from without. From the eastern walk a porch
gives entry to the chapter house and the chapel of the Pyx. The first is of the time of Henry III., a fine octagonal building, its vaulted roof supported by a slender clustered column of marble. It was largely restored by Scott. There are mural paintings of the 14th and 15th centuries. The chapel or chamber of the Pyx is part of the undercroft of the original dormitory, and is early Norman work of the Confessor's time. It was used as a treasury for the regalia in early times, and here were kept the standard coins of the realm used in the trial of the pyx now carried out at the Mint. The undercroft is divided into compartments by walls; above it is now the chapter library. To the south-east lies the picturesque Little Cloister, with its court and fountain. Near it are slight ruins of the monastic infirmary chapel of St. Catherine. West of the main cloisters are the Deanery, Jerusalem chamber and College Hall, the building surrounding a small court and dating mainly from the 14th century. This was the abbot's house. Its most famous portion is the Jerusalem chamber, believed to be named from the former tapestries on its walls, representing the holy city. The College Hall, adjoining it, is now the dining-hall of Westminster School.
St. Peter's College, commonly called Westminster School, is one of the ancient public schools of Eng land. A school was maintained by the monks from very early times. Henry VIII. took interest in it, but the school owes its present standing to Queen Elizabeth. The school buildings lie east of the conventual buildings, surrounding Little Dean's Yard, which, like the cloisters, communicates with Dean's Yard. The buildings are modern or largely modernized. The Great Schoolroom is a fine panelled hall. Ashburnham House, containing one of the school houses, the library and many class-rooms, is named from the family for whom it was built, traditionally but not cer tainly, by Inigo Jones. The finest part remaining is the grand staircase. There are a number of scholars, called King's Scholars, while a number of scholarships and exhibitions are awarded at the older universities. In the College dormitory a Latin play is an nually presented, in accordance with ancient custom. The boys have the privilege of acclaiming the sovereign at the coronation in the Abbey. There is a long standing custom of struggling for the possession of a tossed pancake on Shrove Tuesday. The win ner of this Pancake Greaze is rewarded by the Dean.