Westminster Abbey Museum, Religious museum in City of Westminster, England
Description
Westminster Abbey Museum preserves royal objects, coronation regalia, and religious manuscripts within the medieval complex of the Abbey. The collection extends across several rooms in the Gothic structure, where visitors walk between precious liturgical textiles, ancient seals, and historical documents.
History
The museum opened in 1908 as a repository for ceremonial artifacts and royal memorabilia collected at the Abbey over centuries. Some of the funeral figures date from the 14th century and were originally crafted for royal mourning processions.
Culture
The collection includes life-size funeral figures that once participated in royal burial ceremonies and were carried through London in processions. Several of these figures still wear garments and regalia that belonged directly to the deceased.
Practical
The museum sits in the cloister area of Westminster Abbey near St. Margaret Street and is accessible through the main Abbey entrances. Information panels in several languages explain exhibits and help visitors navigate through the different rooms.
Did you know?
Several funeral figures were crafted using actual death masks taken immediately after the monarchs passed, made from wax or plaster. These casts ensured true-to-life reproductions of facial features and offer a direct glimpse of how historical figures actually looked.
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