We had the incredible opportunity of visiting Westminster Abbey! I was in complete awe as we walked up and as I walked around the Abbey. The architecture was absolutely incredible! So much detail. And the graves were so extravagant. I need to commission someone immediately to make my grave. It’s going to take them awhile.
There were a lot of queens and kings there. But what was the most interesting were the graves and memorials for actors and writers. These were in what was called the Poet’s corner. Those buried include Charles Dickens, Sir Henry Irving, and Geoffrey Chaucer. Those memorialized include William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and The Bronte Sisters.
The Bronte Sisters were a trio of sisters who were all writers in the 19th century. They published their works under male pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Their real neames are Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte. Charlotte wrote Jane Eyre, Shirley, Villette, and the Professor. Emily wrote Wuthering Heights. And Anne wrote Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell hall. Together, they wrote a shared volume of their poetry.
Sir Henry Irving was an actor. He was the first actor to be knighted. Fun fact, Grace pervades was about him. That was the play we watched that I wrote a review about. He grew up with his aunt raising him, who very much disapproved of his passion for theatre. He grew to be one of the most influential actors. He was given Bateman’s theatre company after the death of Bateman and after Bateman’s wife ran it for a few years. He dies at the age of 68 while on tour for a performance of Becket.
Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet and writer in the fourteenth century. He is best known for writing the Canterbury Tales. He is known as the “Father of English literature”. He helped establish English as a legitimate literary language.
Overall, I really enjoyed walking around the Abbey. There was a beautiful little courtyard and a peaceful garden that was a part of the school at the abbey.
Below are some pictures:
Theatre in London U of A 