Plaque

Westminster Hall - Charles I

Erection date: 1895

Inscription

This tablet marks the spot where Charles Stuart King of England stood before the Court which sat pursuant to the ordinance for erecting a High Court of Justice for his trial which was read the first, second & third time & passed by Parliament on the 4th January 1648-9.

The Court met on Saturday the 20th, Monday the 22nd, Tuesday the 23rd & on Saturday the 27th January 1648-9, when the sentence of Death was pronounced upon the King.

Placed here by order of .... {illegible, but we think it reads:} the First Commissioner of H.M. Works and Public Buildings, 1895.

From Notes & Queries 1920 "The trial of the King was, by order of the Court, held where the Courts of King's Bench and Chancery sat in Westminster Hall, and this Tablet marks the position of the Bar that separated those Courts from the length of the Hall."

The last line of the plaque is illegible and we think the only way of reading it would be a spot of brass rubbing. Another visit required, when we may discover the limits of the security in the Palace.

We took the last line from another plaque (not yet published) in the Hall which is in exactly the same style, although the year may not be exactly correct.

The use of '1648-9' for dates, all of which are in January 1949, is very odd.  We wonder if this is an archaic reference to the time of the changeover to the Gregorian calendar brought about by the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.

Site: Westminster Hall floor plaques - south end (6 memorials)

SW1, St Margaret Street, Westminster Hall

Referring to the plaques on this second landing, as viewed by the people in our photo who are reading them the right way up:
- at the left: George V Silver Jubilee;
- middle column, from the top: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond; Queen Elizabeth II Golden; William Wallace; Queen Elizabeth II Silver;
- at the right: Simon de Montfort.

The other plaques are positioned as follows, starting from the main floor and moving up the steps, southwards, towards the 8 described above:
- on the first landing, at the north edge: Mandela;
- on the first step of the short flight leading to the group of 8: Charles I.

This south end of the hall has been through a number of changes. We found images at Living Heritage and Alamy and Explore Parliament.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Westminster Hall - Charles I

Subjects commemorated i

King Charles I

Born Fife. Until the age of 11 he was only the 'spare' but then his 18-year o...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Westminster Hall - Charles I

Also at this site i

Westminster Hall - Elizabeth II Diamond + Golden Jubilees

Westminster Hall - Elizabeth II Diamond + Golden Jubilees

{Top plaque:} Queen Elizabeth II, on March 20th 2012, here replied to address...

Read More

Westminster Hall - George V Silver Jubilee

Westminster Hall - George V Silver Jubilee

King George the Fifth on May 9th 1935 here received and replied to addresses ...

Read More

Westminster Hall - Mandela

Westminster Hall - Mandela

Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa on 14th July 1996 here received and...

Read More

Westminster Hall - Simon de Montfort

Westminster Hall - Simon de Montfort

Queen Elizabeth II here replied to addresses presented by both Houses of Parl...

Read More

Westminster Hall - William Wallace + Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee

Westminster Hall - William Wallace + Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee

{Top plaque:} Near this spot, at the Kings Bench at the South end of the Hall...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Grey Coat School - David Thompson

Grey Coat School - David Thompson

SW1, Greycoat Place, Grey Coat School

Plaque unveiled by Ray Mears.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
The Gatehouse

The Gatehouse

N6, North Road, 1

The original Gate House was erected here (circa 1386) at the entrance to the Bishop of London's Park.

1 subject commemorated
St Leonards, St Martin's-le-Grand

St Leonards, St Martin's-le-Grand

EC1, St Martin's-le-Grand

Site of St Leonard’s Church, destroyed in the Great Fire, 1666. The Corporation of the City of London

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
PP - 4N - Lucas

PP - 4N - Lucas

EC1, Edward Street

This garden acquired its name due to its popularity as a lunchtime garden with workers from the nearby General Post Office (long gone). ...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
St james's Garden - people of London - stone

St james's Garden - people of London - stone

W1, Piccadilly

Standing in Piccadilly one sees 4 memorials on the wall: from left to right: Sotheran Fountain, Garden, Lyttelton Fountain, Railings. The...

4 subjects commemorated