Source link : https://london-news.net/new-era-for-westminster-abbey-queen-camilla-lays-foundation-stone-for-13m-sacristy-restoration/
Eight centuries after Henry III transformed Westminster Abbey into the iconic gothic structure it is today, Queen Camilla has laid the cornerstone for a new building that will occupy the medieval site of a long-gone sacristy.
The new King Charles III sacristy is set to provide modern facilities for welcoming, ticketing, and security at the abbey.
Construction has commenced following archaeological digs conducted in 2020 at the location, which previously served as a burial site before the original sacristy was built, as well as during the 18th century, when human remains of “hundreds if not thousands of people” were discovered.
As the patron of the new sacristy, Camilla expressed her happiness, stating, “I’m thrilled to unveil this foundation stone. It’s hard to believe that the last time I was here, the site was filled with skeletons, and now there’s a floor.”
She added, “I sincerely hope my husband and I will return in 2026 to inaugurate the King Charles III sacristy, God willing.”
Set to cost £13 million, the new facility will enable visitors to enter the abbey through the grand west door, replacing the north door, and granting access via the entrance traditionally used for royal weddings, funerals, and coronations over the centuries.
This will provide the public with a chance to appreciate the magnificence of the abbey’s interior in a manner that Dean of Westminster, Dr. David Hoyle, described as “transformational.”
The single-story structure,…
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Publish date : 2025-05-14 16:56:00
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