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Article: Westminster Hall
- Article from:
- West's Encyclopedia of American Law
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WESTMINSTER HALL
Westminster Hall was the home of English superior courts until they were moved to the Strand in the early 1880s. Construction of the hall began in 1097; the hall is 240 feet long, 671/2 feet wide, and 90 feet high. In addition to holding regular court sessions, the hall was the focal point of medieval political life.
Many famous trials were held in the hall. Sir Thomas More (1478
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1535), lord chancellor for Henry VIII (1491
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1547), was sentenced to death for refusing to recognize royal supremacy over the church. Charles ...