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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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Westminster Hall
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(London SW1) Britain's most historic secular interior. Built by *William II in the late 11C as a new great hall for the *Palace of Westminster, it was refashioned in its upper levels by *Richard II in 1394–9, acquiring at that time its magnificent oak *hammer-beam roof. The hall has been used for parliaments (including the *Model Parliament), for state trials (most notably that of *Charles I), and in the past hundred years for the lying-in-state of great political leaders; *Gladstone in 1898 was the first, *Churchill in 1965 the most recent.
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