Plaque

Westminster Hall - Wentworth

Erection date: 1895

Inscription

This tablet marks, with as much accuracy as can be attained, the place where Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, stood in this Hall during the impeachment for high treason brought against him before the House of Lords, upon the accusation of the House of Commons: 22nd March - 29th April AD 1640-1.
Placed here by order of the First Commissioner of H. M. Works and Public Buildings 1895.

Initially we thought that the plaque was installed by the first person to hold the post 'Commissioner of H. M. Works and Public Buildings' but no, the title of the post was 'First Commissioner of H. M. Works and Public Buildings'. In 1895 this post was held consecutively by two men: Herbert Gladstone until 21 June and Aretas Akers-Douglas from 4 July. 

We're guessing the plaque was installed by Gladstone since he would not have known that the year alone was insufficient information, whereas Akers-Douglas would have. Interesting that Gladstone Jnr. installed this plaque here just 3 years before his father's death and lying-in-state in this same Hall.

The First Commissioner post was created in 1851. You want to know who the first First Commissioner was, don't you? Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset. Top dog!

Site: Westminster Hall floor plaques - main floor (9 memorials)

SW1, St Margaret Street, Westminster Hall

These 11 plaques are laid into the floor of the hall, in a line down the middle, in this sequence, starting at the entrance end: R101; Hastings; Wentworth; More; Churchill; King Edward VII; Gladstone; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; and King George V and Queen Mary.

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

Subjects commemorated i

Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford

Born Chancery Lane.  An unpopular Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Supported Charl...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Westminster Hall - Wentworth

Created by i

Herbert Gladstone

Gladstone was born in Downing Street, the youngest son of William, who was Ch...

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

Also at this site i

Westminster Hall - Churchill

Westminster Hall - Churchill

Winston Churchill lay in state here from the twenty seventh of January until ...

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Westminster Hall - Edward VII

Westminster Hall - Edward VII

Here rested, from May 17 until interment at Windsor May 20 1910, Edward VII, ...

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Westminster Hall - Gladstone

Westminster Hall - Gladstone

We were unfamiliar with the word 'sepulture'. In this context it means the ri...

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Westminster Hall - Hastings

Westminster Hall - Hastings

On this spot Warren Hastings stood his trial 1788 - 1795. He was acquitted o...

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Westminster Hall - King George VI & Queen Elizabeth

Westminster Hall - King George VI & Queen Elizabeth

His Majesty King George the Sixth lay in state here from the eleventh of Febr...

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Nearby Memorials

New Cross Fire - Town Hall

New Cross Fire - Town Hall

SE6, Rushey Green, Lewisham Town Hall

Unveiled by Sybil Phoenix, a community leader who had been called to the scene the morning after the fire.

15 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lewisham Almshouses

Lewisham Almshouses

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This plaque must have initially been erected without the last section of text, "who died...".

2 subjects commemorated
George Odger

George Odger

WC2, St Giles High Street, 60, St Giles in the Fields

A sign below the plaque says 'The George Odger plaque, formerly on 18 St Giles High Street, was placed here in 1974'.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Waltham Forest College military trainees

Waltham Forest College military trainees

E17, Forest Road, 707

The plaques are just visible in our photo, to the left of the third column from the right. This was built as the South West Essex Techni...

3 subjects commemorated
Ha-ha in Hyde Park

Ha-ha in Hyde Park

W2, West Carriage Drive

We find the terminology used on the information board confusing; 'bastion' is used when 'ha-ha' would make more sense.  British History s...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator