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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Palace of Westminster
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(London SW1) The area between Westminster Abbey and the Thames has been the seat of executive power in England since the 11C, when Edward the Confessor built a palace there. William I and his successors lived in it; and as their chief residence it became the normal place for the king's council and later for *parliament to meet. In the 16C Henry VIII moved his palace a short distance north to *Whitehall, but the two houses of parliament remained in their improvised Westminster quarters. The Lords met in the White Chamber; the Commons eventually settled in St Stephen's Chapel, debating from the choir stalls.
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This arrangement came to an accidental end in 1834, when it was decided to burn a quantity of old wooden tally sticks in a basement. The fire got out of hand and demolished the entire palace except for *Westminster Hall and the 14C Jewel Tower on the other side of the road. This fortunate mishap made possible the building of the present *Houses of Parliament, still officially described as the Palace of Westminster.
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