westminster – Walk Round The World

Poet’s Corner: Their final chapter in Westminster Abbey

Published on March 28, 2025April 10, 2025 by Rita MLeave a comment

Is Westminster Abbey just a church to you? Or simply a must-visit in London?

Let me tell you, it’s far more than that.

Apart from being one of the most famous and historically significant churches in England, this thousand-year-old abbey is a perfect blend of history and mystery. It’s where Queen Victoria’s coronation took place, and for hundreds of years, the kings and queens of England have been crowned beneath its grand vaulted ceilings.

It’s the coronation church of England…. linked to the heart of the British Monarchy.

But is that all? Of course not.

Westminster Abbey is also a living monument to Britain’s literary past. Yes, the Abbey has a special corner. The Poet’s Corner.

Tucked away in the South Transept of Westminster Abbey, just a stone’s throw from the main altar…there it lies. Don’t worry, it’s not hard to find at all…after all, it is filled with tombs and memorials.

I agree, the corner isn’t that large… but none can deny the amount of cultural and literary significance it holds.

It\’s not every day we get to feel the presence of literary legends like Chaucer, Dickens, Austen, and Wordsworth beyond the pages of books. So when you get the chance, why miss it?

How did it all begin?

Do you know…the tradition of honoring writers in Westminster Abbey actually began by accident?

Yes, it started with the burial of Geoffrey Chaucer, father of English Literature and poetry. Back then, Westminster Abbey served as the final resting place for monarchs, noble families, and high-ranking clergy rather than poets and writers.

So, why did they make an exception for Chaucer? Well, they didn’t.

The very first poet to be buried here wasn’t given the honor because of his literary brilliance, but because of his government position. He worked as Clerk of the King’s Works and happened to live within the Abbey precincts. Therefore, when he died in 1400, it was convenient to bury him near Westminster Abbey. His grave was completely unmarked at first… until 150 years later, a fellow poet, Nicholas Brigham commissioned an ornate tomb for Chaucer in the South Transept.

This sparked a trend…

In a way, the posthumous recognition of Chaucer as the \”Father of English Poetry\” turned his grave into the foundation of Poets’ Corner. From then on, the practice of honoring poets, playwrights, and writers here continued. Some were buried in the Abbey itself, while others were granted commemorative plaques.

Today, Poet’s Corner stands as a reason to visit Westminster Abbey.

So, who are buried under the Abbey?

There are over 100 individuals memorialized in Poets’ Corner, but only about 50 are actually buried there. The rest have plaques or statues in their honour but interred elsewhere.

Though the tradition of Poet’s Corner started with Chaucer…the next literary burial came more than a century later in 1599. It was Edmund Spenser, the man behind The Faerie Queene.

You know, some say that his unpublished works still rest beneath the stone sealed away forever.

Legend has it… mourning poets of the time gathered around his tomb, slipping their own verses into his grave as an offering.

What an eerie offering! I just hope none of them got a reply from the grave.

Anyway, the tradition went on…

In 1637, Playwright and poet Ben Jonson was laid to rest here. Then, in 1700, came dramatic opera writer John Dryden…in 1721, it was British poet and diplomat Matthew Prior\’s turn…in 1784, the creator of the first comprehensive English dictionary, Dr. Samuel Johnson, joined them. And so, it continued.

You know, in 1870 when English novelist Charles Dickens died, all he wanted was a quiet burial. But, it was the public demand that brought him to this Poet’s corner.

And in case of Thomas Hardy in 1928, his ashes were interred here…but his heart is buried in Dorset.

Other than them, today, you can also see the burials of Rudyard Kipling, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning along with many others including actors and historians who have also found their final resting place within Poet’s Corner.

Where’s Shakespeare?

Ah, sorry to disappoint you, but the most famous writer in the English language is not buried here. Instead, he rests far away from this abbey…beneath the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Why so?

Well, it’s because of the time when he died.

In 1616, Poet’s Corner wasn’t yet an established tradition for literary burials. It didn’t fully take shape until the 18th century. At the time, Westminster Abbey was still a place for royalty, noblemen, and high-ranking clergy, not playwrights. And, back then Shakespeare was still seen as a respected playwright and wealthy businessman.

By the time, literary burial in Abbey became a tradition, it was too late… Shakespeare had been resting in Stratford for over 100 years and moving his remains would have been considered disrespectful. Also, come on?

So, Shakespeare remains in his hometown Stratford-upon-Avon…

But, Shakespeare was too important to be left out entirely. In 1740, over 120 years after his death, a large statue of Shakespeare was added in Poets’ Corner in honor of his contributions to English literature. This marble statue shows Shakespeare leaning on a pile of books, with an inscription taken from The Tempest:

“The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve”

So, you can say…

Even in death, Shakespeare remains uniquely untouchable. His body in Stratford, his words in Westminster, and his legacy everywhere.

Who else has memorials but no burials?

Let me break the news upfront…. Just like Shakespeare…Jane Austen, Lord Byron, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, T.S. Eliot, Ted Hughes, and Philip Larkin are not there.

In the Poet’s Corner, these literary figures have only been memorialized.

Jane Austen did not achieve widespread fame during her lifetime when she died in 1817. Her novels including Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility gained immense popularity long after her death.

But, the rebellious Romantic poet Bryon was denied burial in Westminster Abbey when he died in 1824. I believe it is due to his controversial reputation and life of scandal…Actually, Byron never cared for the rules of society, and even in death, it took 145 years for Westminster Abbey to welcome him….

145 years, can you believe it? Long enough for Bryon to be reborn twice!

Now, it seems his epitaph rightly states,

“But there is that within me which shall tire,

Torture and time, and breathe when I expire.”

But, what about Keats and P.B.Shelly?

Well, these two Romantic poets died young and far from England. Keats died of tuberculosis at just 25 years old in Rome and Shelley drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Italy at 29 years old.

Even though they rest beneath the Italian sun, the poet’s corner has brought them close to the heart of England.

It’s possible that you won’t find your favorite writer or artist here, but let me tell you, the tradition of memorializing great writers in Poets’ Corner continues even to this day.

And, it means that literature’s always been an evolving legacy.

What they rarely talk about

Ever heard about Ben Jonson? This famous English dramatist was buried standing up due to lack of space. Maybe, that’s why on his tombstone…one can find “O Rare Ben Jonson\”

And, who knows…maybe for this reason, some visitors claim to have seen a shadowy figure near Jonson’s burial site.

Is it possible that his restless spirit is still looking for a better resting spot?

Let me tell you, the graves of Dickens and Chaucer aren’t any less haunted…as per rumors. It is believed by many that on every death anniversary, Charles Dickens comes to visit his tomb, and close to Chaucer’s it feels as if someone is reciting lines from The Canterbury Tales.

Of course, the Abbey officially denies these stories, but let’s be honest…would they really admit it if the poets were still hanging around? But, what couldn’t be denied so easily were those rumors about unexplained chills near certain graves.

So, it’s true that when you are in that poet’s corner you will feel these literary elites’ presence in one way or another.

And before I leave…

You already know Westminster Abbey is famous for royal burials…there are not just any royal, monarchs as in kings and queens are buried under this abbey.

The first royal burial in the Abbey started in 1066 with Edward the Confessor and continued till James VI & I in 1625. In the graves, you can find Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, Henry III, Edward I…and many significant historical figures.

Beyond the royals, there’s a scientist’s corner as well…where you can find Sir Isaac Newton, right next to him there are Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.

When you leave Poet’s Corner you will realize that even in death poets are alongside scientists, politicians, and respected royals. As they were in life.

So, try not to miss them while in Abbey.

If you need more convincing…I am there for that. Always. Simply, keep an eye out for my upcoming blogs.

Decoding Big Ben: Is it just a tall clock tower?

Published on March 8, 2025April 10, 2025 by Rita MLeave a comment

Anna Quindlen once wrote, “London opens to you like a novel itself… it\’s divided into chapters, chapters into scenes, the scenes into sentences; it opens to you like a series of rooms, doors, and passages.”

Today, I finally decided to open the chapter titled Big Ben.

Ever since my childhood, London was the city of my dreams. I do not remember imagining the city ever without its Big Ben. This 164-year-old Big Ben always seemed more romantic to me than being an architectural masterpiece. It’s like… if you stand under the clock tower with clothes warm enough to keep you cozy, without meaning to, your fingers will reach for your partner’s. You will want to kiss them, share some sweet nothings with them.

And just like that… Big Ben ceases to be a mere landmark. If a place can make you feel that way, isn’t it perfect in every sense?

If you just want the facts—height, age, history, basic details—there’s always Wikipedia and thousands other websites. But, none of them would tell you how Big Ben etches itself into your soul and makes a permanent place in your memory with its unbeatable charm. You can’t call Big Ben just a clock tower, it’s definitely more than that. It’s the heartbeat of a city, a silent constant of London’s skyline whispering stories through time. If you truly wish to feel London to its core and let its spirit wrap around you… begin with Big Ben.

And where better to start than at its very birth?

A tower born from Fire

Yes, the story of Big Ben began in tragedy. In 1834, a fire ravaged the old Palace of Westminster. It left London in desperate need of a new parliamentary complex. But this time, it couldn\’t be about rebuilding only. London wanted something extraordinarily symbolic to the spirit of Britain. So, a competition was held to design the Westminster’s new Palace.

And it was British Architect Sir Charles Barry’s design of clock tower which

emerged victorious making him the chief architect of the Big Ben project. But, unfortunately, Barry was no expert in clock making—that responsibility fell to Edmund Beckett Denison, an amateur horologist who would go on to design one of the most precise timekeeping mechanisms in history. Later, the Gothic Revival-style tower of Big Ben was finalized by Augustus Pugin, who added several intricate design to this masterpiece.

Anyway, the construction, which began in 1843, was anything but smooth. It took 16 years of relentless craftsmanship, endless problem-solving, and patience before Big Ben was finally ready in 1859. The greatest challenge was the designing of the Great Clock which intended to be the most accurate public clock in the world. The big ben designers were trying to incorporate a revolutionary gravity escapement mechanism that can make sure that external factors like the weather couldn’t interfere with its precision. Though it took time, but they successfully implemented the mechanism to the clock. However, the journey to perfection was paved with broken bells, rust issues due to London’s damp air, and countless setbacks.

But it was all worth it when in 1859 this 316 feet tower stood tall, ready to mark history with its unmistakable big ben chimes.

Now for last 165 years, Big Ben has stood tall, a silent witness to history’s grandest moments. It heard the first shots of World War I and the last echoes of World War II, chiming through the reigns of Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II. Once known as St. Stephen’s Tower, the clock tower big ben stood undaunted as the Blitz raged over London, its bells unwavering even as the city rebuilt itself.

Beneath its gaze, the Hansom Cab once ruled the streets, giving way to the Lanchester 10 HP, the regal Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the suave Aston Martin DB5, and now, the silent hum of Teslas gliding into the future. Through farewells, and the birth of a new millennium, Big Ben remained unchanged—a steadfast guardian of time in a world forever racing forward.

An Architectural Love Letter

Big Ben isn’t just a pretty face, it represents the height of Victorian engineering and craftsmanship. The chimes of big ben have marked historic moments being the silent witness to everything London went through. This grand clock tower has also inspired countless clock towers across the globe, from the Peace Tower in Ottawa to Mumbai’s Rajabai Clock Tower.

I believe Big Ben is in true sense a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture, isn\’t it? Its verticality, pointed arches, and meticulous detailing give it an almost celestial aura…never failing to impress its audience. The tower has four faces ( big ben clock faces), each 23 feet in diameter being one of the largest in its own category. But, the iron-made hour hand stretches only to 9 feet, while the minute hand to an astonishing 14 feet. The bells inside the tower are made of bronze and weigh around 13.5 tons, delivering a chime so deep and resonant that it feels like it is the sound of London breathing.

Here’s a fun fact—do you know that the name ‘Big Ben’ originally referred to the Great Bell inside the tower? Later it was decided to call the entire structure Big Ben. Oh another thing, if you decide to ever go inside Big Ben, don’t expect an elevator. Unlike other world-famous clock towers, Big Ben gives you a chance to climb a 334-step spiral ascent allowing you to relish that old school tower charm.

Honestly, 334 steps is no joke, I understand. If you are an Asthma patient or suffering from chronic Arthritis, reconsider climbing these many steps.

Have you noticed one thing about the clock dial of Big Ben recently? Since the last restoration, it’s been brought back to the original Prussian blue color, this was the color Architect Pugin selected initially in mid-19th century.

Before I stop rambling about architecture (I promise, just one last thing!), here\’s a little secret hidden within Big Ben’s towering grandeur. Tucked away behind its stately façade lies a tiny prison cell—yes, you read that right. It was historically used as a temporary detention room for MPs who breached parliamentary conduct rules. In 1880, an Atheist MP, Charles Bradlaugh earned himself a detention in this room for refusing to swear a religious oath and he was locked there overnight until he learned a lesson. Though the room no longer holds MPs thrown out of the chamber, but it still exists.

Now, don’t you think that you can check out this special prison room- it’s not for tourists or common people to enter. It’s concealed behind a special door which can only be accessed through a particular chamber in Parliament.

Legends, Myths & Mystique around Big Ben

Did you really think the storytellers and legend-weavers would leave Big Ben untouched? When has the world ever resisted spinning myths around an icon? No. And that is why, Big Ben also has its fair share of whispered tales.

There’s the eerie tale of Big Ben striking 13 times at midnight…How can a clock strike more than 12th time? Apparently, British believers mark it as an omen of doom, particularly for the Royal Family. Also, the folklore suggests that, if Big Ben clock strikes 13^th time at midnight the stone lions at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square will awaken and they will walk around the streets of London.

Apart from these two, there isn’t much of weird speculation about Big Ben …except for one. Even today, some still believe the name of Big Ben came from Sir Benjamin Hall, a rather large man who oversaw the bell’s installation. I am glad that many still do not believe in it… I so want the name of Big Ben to be born out of something grander.

One can’t measure the value of Big Ben in hours and minutes, but in moments only- it guards memories, holds secrets of heart and stands as a silent witness to our every fleeting moment. To me, Big Ben will always remain the thrill of a first kiss beneath its towering face. Somewhere, it gives me a comforting certainty that no matter how far I wander, I know that if I ever return, Big Ben will still be there—ready to listen to my side as if it had been waiting for me all along..

Big Ben truly helps one realize that time isn’t meant to be chased. It’s meant to be cherished…After all, when time is wrapped in history and emotion, it is never just time- It’s Magic.

And on that note, let’s move on to my next London blog—before reality tries to dull the magic…