The Houses of Parliament in English with translation. Palaces and castles of England: Palace of Westminster. Text translation: Parliament. The Palace of Westminster

The history of the Palace of Westminster began a long time ago.

This building arose in 1840-1860 on the site of an old palace that burned down in 1834, which by that time was a combination of the most diverse buildings. However, during the fire, they managed to save, in addition to the badly damaged crypt under the chapel of St. Stephen, the most architecturally valuable part of the old palace is Westminster Hall. Fate turned out to be merciful to him for the second time: the hall survived the devastating German air raid in May 1941, when the adjacent House of Commons hall was destroyed.

For modern London, Westminster Hall is the best and most expressive monument of medieval secular architecture. Begun in 1097, it was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century. Henry Yevel, a talented London mason, laid out the walls. The famous wooden floors were erected with the participation of the royal carpenter Hugh Erland.

But let's take things in order...

In 1215, eighteen barons who were in opposition to royal power forced the English king John the Landless to sign the Magna Carta, which laid the foundation for the English constitution. A few years later, Baron Simon de Montfort, one of the leaders of the opposition, convened the first English parliament. However, despite its ancient origins, parliament did not have its own residence for a long time: meetings had to be held in the ancient Westminster Hall or shared with the monks in the Chapter Hall of Westminster Abbey. Only in 1547 did the English Parliament receive its permanent residence in St. Stephen's Chapel of the old Palace of Westminster, which until the 16th century was the main residence of the English kings.

In ancient times, on the site of Westminster there was an impassable swamp. However, the swamp was dried up, and a royal palace was erected in its place. The palace was located near the Thames, next to Westminster Abbey, a few miles from the City.

The first palace was built for King Edward the Confessor, who ascended the throne in 1042. Forty-five years later, Westminster Hall was built for William Rufus, son of William the Confessor, the most elegant hall in Europe, where a feast was held in 1099. In the 13th century, Henry 3rd added the painted chamber, and during his reign the first parliament (from the French verb "parler" - to speak) was convened.

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On January 20, 1265, the first English parliament convened by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, met in the Palace of Westminster. In order to give the established order a semblance of legitimacy, Montfort put forward the initiative to create a council in which, along with the rest, the third estate would be represented. Convened on January 20, 1265, this council very quickly developed into a permanent body called Parliament.

To adapt the chapel for parliamentary meetings, it was completely built up with benches and galleries, which, of course, distorted its architectural appearance. In addition, the entrance to it passed through Westminster Hall, where the Supreme Court of England sat. However, despite a number of inconveniences, the House of Commons met in St. Stephen's Chapel until the fire of 1834, after which it again found itself without a permanent seat.

After the fire, in the slightly damaged part of Westminster Hall, Parliament continued to temporarily meet, and the architect Smirke accepted the proposal to build two temporary rooms for their meetings on the ruins of the burnt chambers. The architect set to work with zeal and put to good use all the parts that were preserved from the fire. The former premises of the upper House of Lords were restored and given over to the House of Commons, and the Lords themselves received the restored Picture Gallery for their meetings.

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But by the summer of 1835, a special commission decided to build a new Palace of Westminster on the old site. According to legend, the choice of location was largely determined by security considerations: in the event of popular unrest, the Parliament building, being on the banks of the Thames, would not be surrounded by an indignant crowd. It was recommended to build the palace in the Gothic or Elizabethan style, that is, in the spirit of the secular architecture of England at the end of the 16th century.

97 projects were submitted to the competition, of which 91 were made in the Gothic style. Preference was given to the project of C. Barry, a young architect, but by that time the author of several famous buildings. In addition to the main meeting rooms of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, it was necessary to provide premises for the ceremonial ceremony of the annual opening of parliament with the presence of the queen, who opens its work. We needed separate voting rooms, corridors that would connect the central halls with libraries, canteens, and many other utility rooms. And Charles Barry managed to arrange all this myriad of courtyards, rooms and corridors very logically.

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In 1837, on the banks of the Thames, builders began to build terraces that moved the river back, and three years later, Charles Barry’s wife laid the first stone in the foundation of the new Palace of Westminster.

A special commission was created to restore this masterpiece of architecture, and soon a competition was announced for the development of the project, in which about a hundred people took part. As a result, ninety-seven options were considered, of which the project of Charles Barry (1795-1860) was recognized as the best. It was he who was entrusted with the restoration, which he did in a magnificent Gothic style with the help of Augustus Pugin, who performed the picturesque ornamental work. St Stephen's Chapel was renamed St Stephen's Hall. It's a wide hallway lined with paintings, marble sculptures and a lagoon sign where the Speaker's chair once stood.

The preparatory work dragged on for 3 years - it was necessary to build terraces on the banks of the Thames. It was only in 1840 that work began on the parliament building itself. The construction of the palace was completed in 1888.

Currently, the building of the Palace of Westminster, which is now simply called Parliament, is located in central London and is one of the largest buildings in the world. According to some, it is the main attraction of the English capital.

The Palace of Westminster stretches far along the banks of the Thames and covers an area of ​​more than three hectares. Despite its size, the Parliament building does not overwhelm with its enormity, but, on the contrary, caresses the eye with the lightness and beauty of its majestic romantic forms, although it has elements of late Gothic and some asymmetry in the silhouette and individual details. On the outside it is crowned with countless small turrets, and its walls are decorated with lancet windows, lovely rosettes and lace stone trim on the cornices and windows. The Parliament is especially beautiful in the evenings, when its towers and spiers, flooded with spotlights, stand out like a fantastic crown against the dark sky.

The main verticals of the Palace of Westminster are the Victoria Tower (its height is 104 meters), rising above the royal entrance to Parliament, and the Big Ben clock tower, 98 meters high. The main clock bell, weighing more than 13 tons, got its name from Benjamin Hall, the Minister of Public Works. The clock itself, which has four 9-meter dials, was built under the direction of the famous astronomer Eri. When the clock strikes time, all English radio stations broadcast it. The Victoria Tower forms the royal entrance to Parliament, and during parliamentary sessions the British state flag.

The opening of parliamentary sessions is accompanied by solemn traditional ceremonies. The royal couple arrive in a gilded carriage drawn by eight cream-colored horses. These horses descend in a direct line from those that William of Orange brought with him to England from Holland at the end of the 17th century.

The Royal throne, upholstered in red velvet and decorated with gold and diamonds, in the House of Lords stands on a special dais under an inlaid Gothic canopy.

The architect Charles Barry owed much of his success in the construction of the Palace of Westminster to his collaboration with O. Pugin, an enthusiast and expert on English Gothic architecture. An excellent draftsman, passionately in love with the art of the Middle Ages, he also participated in the development of details of the palace facades. It was thanks to the inventive imagination of O. Pugin that the facades of Parliament and its tower were decorated with intricate stone carvings. O. Pugin worked especially hard on decorating the interiors of the Palace of Westminster, although some researchers note that at times his sense of proportion was somewhat lacking. Nowhere will you find smooth ceilings and walls, everywhere there are carved panels, canopies, niches, bright mosaics, huge frescoes, the floors in many rooms are lined with yellow, blue and brown tiles.... The modern viewer is confused by the fineness of the ornament, the variegation of colors, the overload of details, perhaps. somewhat tiresome, but in the 1840s they delighted the wealthy bourgeois public.

The greatest interest in the Palace of Westminster is the interior of the House of Lords and the premises associated with it by the parliamentary ceremony: the Royal Gallery for ceremonial processions; the room in which the Queen is dressed for her ceremonial appearance in Parliament; waiting room for exchanging opinions and making private decisions and others.
The ceiling of the House of Lords is completely covered with images of heraldic birds, animals, flowers, etc.; its walls are lined with carved wooden panels, above which there are images of six frescoes. Eighteen bronze statues of the barons who got the king to sign the Magna Carta stand in niches between the windows, looking down on the inlaid canopy of the royal throne, the rows of benches upholstered in bright red leather, and the famous “woolsack” of the Lord Chancellor. Several centuries ago, this bag, covered with red cloth, was stuffed with wool, representing the emblem of English industry. Nowadays, the original “woolsack” has become a museum exhibit, but the tradition remains: the chairman of the House of Lords, dressed in a black and gold robe and a fluffy white wig, opens the meetings, sitting on a soft red sofa without a back.

Adjacent to the House of Lords is an entrance hall, decorated with the same sumptuous luxury as the hall of the upper chamber itself. Its northern doors lead to a corridor that ends at the octagonal Central Hall. In niches around the entire hall there are statues of English kings.

The chamber of the House of Commons does not have the majestic pomp that is present in the chamber of the House of Lords. It is not a very large room, paneled in dark oak, and its dark green benches, running in parallel rows, leave only a small passage in the middle. Members of the lower house of parliament can even sit in a hat during their meetings, but the chairman (speaker) is always dressed solemnly: in an old black suit, stockings and shoes, and his head, according to the old tradition, is covered with an indispensable wig.

The arrangement of the speaker's seat is also associated with long-standing traditions. His chair, surrounded by iron bars on the back and sides, stands in front of the front door. In former times, this grille protected the Chairman of the House of Commons from occasional attacks. During the reign of the Stuarts, the speakers were the king's proteges, so they often complained about all sorts of incidents. For example, how some deputy “stood behind my chair and barked in my ear so much that I, like other members of the chamber, was extremely frightened”; or how some “deputy came up and stuck his tongue out at me.”

The need for an iron grille has long passed, but the builders of the new building did not dare to deviate from tradition.
In the House of Commons hall, in front of the speaker's chair, there is a large table on which lies a mace - a symbol of the speaker's power, and three secretaries in judicial robes and wigs sit at the table.

At the western end of the chamber of the lower house of the English Parliament, several steps lead down to the vestibule, on the right side of which the entrance to Westminster Hall opens. It remains from that huge building, the foundation of which was laid in 1097 by William the Red, son of William the Conqueror. Burnt down by fire in 1291, Westminster Hall was rebuilt in its current form in 1308.

Westminster Hall is a very large hall, its dimensions are 88x21x28 meters. Its ceiling does not rest on any column, and there is no other structure like it. This ceiling was renovated in 1820 using wood from old battleships.

A lot of historical events took place in Westminster Hall, perhaps only the Tower saw more drama than this hall. The first English parliament met here, where Kings Edward II and Richard II were deposed; in it, Richard III received his captives - the Scottish king David II and the king of France, John the Good. In this hall, the utopian philosopher Thomas More heard his death sentence, and King Charles II was tried here. During the coronation of George IV, a knight rode into Westminster Hall on horseback, throwing down the gauntlet to all who dared challenge the crown of his king.

King Charles I appeared at Westminster Hall through a small door, now sealed, and demanded the surrender of five members of the opposition. This was the only time in the entire history of the English Parliament when the king entered the lower house. Here Charles I himself was subsequently tried, and the crowd filling the hall and looking out the windows shouted: “Execution! Execution! The king's death sentence was passed unanimously, and this document is still kept in the library of the House of Commons.

At Westminster Hall, Oliver Cromwell, wearing a purple and ermine robe, holding a golden scepter in one hand and a Bible in the other, assumed the title of Lord Protector. And four years later, here his head was put on a stake.

Both chambers are connected by a corridor to Westminster Hall, which is the central hall of the building and occupies the middle of the palace. The corridor itself serves as a kind of reception area, a place for members of parliament to communicate with the “outside world”, so there is always activity here and there are a lot of public and tourists.

The part of the Palace of Westminster containing the House of Commons was destroyed during the Second World War, but the general Gothic character of its architecture was preserved when restored. Unfortunately, the finishing details carved in stone and wood and many other furnishings, which previously formed a single style complex with the entire room, could not be repeated. Lighting spotlights of modern forms further disrupted the artistic integrity of this hall.

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Another long-standing tradition has been preserved in the English Parliament since the 17th century. In 1605, a group of conspirators dug under the building of the Palace of Westminster and planted gunpowder there in order to blow up all the deputies along with the king at the time of the ceremonial meeting. The plot was discovered, and Guy Fawkes, who led the “gunpowder plot,” was executed along with his accomplices. But every year, guards dressed in ancient costumes, with lanterns and halberds in their hands, search all the basements and nooks and crannies of the palace. The guards' lanterns are candleless, as the lower floors of Parliament are well lit by electricity. It is known in advance that they will not find any barrels of gunpowder, especially since the new palace was built two and a half centuries after the “gunpowder plot.” But every year, on November 5, the guards, led by the bailiff of the chamber (“the bearer of the black rod”), go around the basements and check for new intruders….

Westminster Hall covers an area of ​​1800 square meters. Its height is 28 meters. This is one of the grandest medieval halls known in architecture Western Europe, the wooden roof of which is also not supported by any support pillars. The hall's 21-meter-wide span is covered with carved oak open rafters supported by complex system strongly forward wooden brackets. The shape of these ceilings is difficult to describe.

Usually they are compared with the frames of ancient frigates, as if turned upside down. But this comparison does not reveal the full complexity of the design, high level the carpentry skills of the builders and the amazing artistic effect that they managed to achieve. A similar system of wooden floors, usually used in residential buildings and parish churches in England, was one of the unique achievements of English medieval architecture and nowhere else in Europe did it become so widespread and did not reach such a high artistic level as in this country.

In Westminster Hall, one is surprised by the integrity of the composition, the impeccability of the proportions and lines of the carved design. Over the centuries, the wood of the ceilings has darkened, and now they seem immersed in a mysterious twilight. The space of the hall is filled with silvery-lilac light pouring through the colored stained glass of the pointed Gothic windows. According to the British, in any weather the walls blow cold. Everything reminds of the antiquity of the hall and helps to revive the events that took place there.

The Houses of Parliament are the most significant creation of the architect Barry. And although it caused the most controversial judgments and assessments, this did not prevent it from immediately becoming one of the city’s attractions. The correctly found proportionality of the main volumes of such a significant structure is noteworthy. If you look at it from a distance, you are invariably impressed by the almost classical severity and wide scope of its facades, and at the same time by the picturesqueness of its outlines as a whole. The mighty Victoria Tower, square in plan, and the huge clock tower, asymmetrically located in the northern and southern parts of the palace, give it a unique identity. Together with a small tower with a spire placed above the central hall, they not only decorate it, but also with their height balance the enormous length of the facades.

The Victoria Tower, rising 104 meters in height, forms the royal entrance to Parliament. During the session, the British national flag is raised on it. Clock tower has 98 meters height. It has a clock mechanism that differs great accuracy. We can say that this is the “main clock” of the state. A huge bell, “Big Ben” (Big Bon), specially cast for the tower, weighing 13.5 tons, chimes the hours. Big Ben's fight is constantly broadcast on English radio stations. The clock got its name from Benjamin Hall, one of the construction managers. During the parliamentary session, at nightfall, a spotlight is lit on the tower.

The British Empire erected for its parliament a building of rare pomp and size even by the tastes of that time. Directories provide figures: 3.2 hectares of area, 3 kilometers of corridors, 1,100 rooms, 100 stairs. . . Of course, dry numbers do not reveal the artistic merits or demerits of the palace, but to some extent they indicate the complex layout of the building, which was influenced by the peculiarities of the parliamentary structure, and the traditions that have long accompanied the meetings, and the everyday business life of the English parliament. In addition to the main halls of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it was necessary to provide premises designed for the ceremonial ceremony of the annual opening of parliament with the presence of the queen reading the speech from the throne. We needed special voting rooms, kilometers of corridors that would connect the central halls with libraries, canteens, and various utility rooms. Barry managed to arrange all this myriad of rooms, corridors, courtyards very logically.
The northern part of the building, shaded by the Victoria Tower, is occupied by the House of Lords and the premises associated with it by the parliamentary ceremony. These include: the magnificent Royal Gallery, designed for ceremonial processions; the room in which the Queen is dressed for her ceremonial appearance in Parliament; lobby, in literal translation from English - a waiting room, but in fact - sidelines, a room for exchanging opinions and making private decisions. It is characteristic that the same term in parliamentary jargon refers to a group of figures who, in their own interests, put pressure on deputies.

In the southern half of the palace, next to Big Ben, is the House of Commons hall. There is also the lobby of the House of Commons, voting rooms, and the speaker's residence.

Corridors connect these most important parts of the Palace of Westminster with the Central Hall, which occupies the middle of the building and serves as a kind of reception room, a place for members of parliament to communicate with the “outside world”. This room is almost always lively. Deputies accept petitions from their constituents. Journalists, having learned the latest parliamentary news, immediately report it to their agencies from numerous telephone booths. There are a lot of people and tourists here.
From here the corridor leads to the hall of St. Stephen, built on the site of a chapel destroyed by fire. From the dais at the end of the hall it opens best view on the interior of Westminster Hall.

The builder of the Houses of Parliament, Barry, owed much of his success among his contemporaries to his collaboration with Augustus Pugin, an excellent expert on Gothic architecture, a man fanatically in love with the art of the Middle Ages and its zealous promoter. In addition, Pugin was an excellent draftsman. Research recent years show that many carefully and even gracefully executed architectural drawings of the Palace of Westminster belong to his hand.

Thanks to Pugin's inventive imagination, Barry's facades and towers were decorated with intricate stone carvings. The model that inspired Pugin was the chapel of Henry VII, built in the late Gothic “perpendicular” style and located right there, just across the road from the new palace under construction. Pugin worked especially hard on decorating the interiors of the Houses of Parliament. However, here his sense of proportion often failed him. You won’t find the calm surface of ceilings and walls anywhere. Everywhere there are carved wooden panels, canopies, niches, bright mosaics, huge frescoes, colorful wallpaper. The floors of many rooms are lined with tiles - yellow, blue, brown. The fragmentation of the ornament, the overload of details, the variegation of colors - all that delighted the rich bourgeois public of the 1840s tires the eye of the modern viewer and only sometimes makes it difficult to notice truly high craftsmanship.

The interior of the House of Lords is of greatest interest. Decorative techniques found in the interior decoration of the entire palace reach their culmination here. The ceiling is completely covered with images of heraldic birds, animals, flowers, etc. The walls are lined with carved wooden panels, above which there are six frescoes. Eighteen bronze statues of the barons who secured Magna Carta from King John stand in the niches between the windows, looking down on the inlaid canopy of the royal throne, on the rows of benches upholstered in bright red leather, on the famous sofa of the Lord Chancellor.

This sofa recalls a long-standing tradition: the Lord Chancellor used to sit in Parliament on a woolsack, symbolizing the foundations of British trade and prosperity. The original bag of wool has now become a museum exhibit, but the tradition remains: the Chairman of the House of Lords, dressed in a black and gold robe, in a fluffy white wig, opens the sittings of the House sitting on a soft sofa.

And also by tradition, at the northern end of the chamber of the House of Lords there is a bronze wrought-iron barrier, marking the place of the members of the House of Commons and the speaker who leads it, which they occupy during the opening of parliament.

Part of the Palace of Westminster, which houses the House of Commons, was destroyed during the Second World War. During the restoration work, the general Gothic character of the architecture was preserved. But the finishing details carved in stone and wood, as well as many furnishings that previously formed a single stylistic complex with the entire room, were not repeated. The introduction of lighting spotlights of modern forms further violated the artistic integrity of the appearance of the hall. However, even in its original form, the hall of the House of Commons had a much more modest and business-like character than the hall of the House of Lords. Its walls were covered with dark oak paneling and its benches were upholstered in green leather. This combination has been preserved to this day.

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Sources
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world-art.ru

Parliament The Palace of Westminster.

Britain is administered from the Palace of Westminster in London. This is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament is made up of two chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The members of the House of Lords are not elected: they qualify to sit in the House because they are bishops of the Church of England, aristocrats who have inherited their seats from their fathers, people with titles. There has been talk of reform in this century because many Britons think that this system is undemocratic.

The House of Commons, by contrast, has 65 0seats which are occupied by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the British public. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has an elected MP in the House of Commons.

Each of the major political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for each seat. Smaller parties may have a candidate in only a few constituencies. There may be five or more parties, fighting for one seat, but only one person - the candidate who gets the greatest number of votes - can win.

Some parties win a lot of seats and some win very few, or none at all. The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes Parliament. All new laws are debated (discussed) by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.

All three are part of Parliament in Britain.

Parliament. Palace of Westminster.

The British government is located in the Palace of Westminster in London. The Palace of Westminster is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament consists of two houses - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Members of the House of Lords are not elected: they are members of Parliament because they are bishops of the English Church and aristocrats who inherited their seats from their fathers, titled persons. There is talk of reforming this system in the present century, as many Britons do not consider the system democratic.

The House of Commons, by contrast, has 650 seats. These seats are held by Members of Parliament elected by the British people. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has its own representative (Member of Parliament) in the House of Commons.

Each of the major political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for a seat in parliament. Smaller parties may only have candidates in a few constituencies. Five or more parties can compete for one seat, but only one person can win - the candidate who receives the most a large number of votes.

Some parties win many seats, others win few or none at all. The Queen, the head of state, opens and closes parliament. All laws are discussed by members of the House of Commons, then by members of the House of Lords and finally signed by the Queen.

Parliament in Britain consists of: the Queen, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords.

Vocabulary:

1. What is Parliament made up of?
2. Are the members of the House of Lords elected?
3. What do Britons think about this system?
4. Who appoints a representative to compete for each seat?
5. Who can win the seat?
6. Who is the Head of State?

Vocabulary:
to be made up of - consist of
elected - elected
inherited - inherited
seat - place
constituency - constituency
candidate - candidate
vote - voting, right to vote

The Houses of Parliament constitute perhaps the most popular and widely spread image of London, known and recognized throughout the whole world. In this famous palace there are also many meeting halls and various parliamentary offices.

The Palace of Westminster, together with Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower - which houses the most famous clock in the world, Big Ben - form an unmistakable architectural complex. But the Towers and the Houses of Parliament are not only associated architecturally, but also in the democratic spirit that rules the political life developed in the House of Commons, for, if Parliament is sitting - British parliamentary debates constitute an exemplary political spectacle - the flag flies on top of Victoria Tower during the whole day. If the debates go on during the night - which quite often happens in the dynamic parliamentary life of Great Britain, especially if matters are highly important for the nation are being discussed - a light burns above Big Ben in the Clock Tower. This light at night and the flag during the day-time signal for the people of London that the members of Parliament, each from his own political point of view, are watching over the nation's interests.

The Houses of Parliament can be visited by the public. The entrance is through the door located at the foot of Victoria Tower and next to the Royal Arch. Visitors start at the Royal Gallery and then go to the House of Lords. Here there is the historical Woolsack, where the Lord Chancellor takes his place to preside over the sittings. From here, visitors proceed towards the Central Corridor, crossing the Antechamber of the Lords. The historical frescos that decorate the walls of the Central Corridor are very interesting. Passing from here visitors arrive at the Antechamber of the Commons and then continue to the actual Commons itself.

At the end of the House of Commons is the Speaker's Chair, on the right side of which the members of the parliamentary majority sit. The members of the groups that form the Opposition sit on the left, directly facing the Government benches.

Another interesting point in the Houses of Parliament is St. Stephen's Hall, which is decorated with very valuable frescos. From St. Stephen's Hall one reaches Westminster Hall. It is one of the oldest buildings in London.

Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament are perhaps the most popular and widespread symbol of London, known and recognized throughout the world. This famous palace has many meeting rooms and various parliamentary offices.

The Palace of Westminster, together with the Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower - which houses the world's most famous clock, Big Ben - form an unmistakable architectural complex. The towers and parliament buildings are connected not only architecturally, but also by the democratic spirit that rules in political life House of Commons. When Parliament is in session - British parliamentary debates provide an example of political spectacle - the flag flies from the top of Victoria Tower throughout the day. If debates continue into the night - which is quite common in Britain's dynamic parliamentary life, especially if issues of great importance to the nation are being debated at the time - a light is lit above Big Ben in the Clock Tower. This light at night and the flag during the day are a signal to the people that members of parliament, each with their own political point of view, are looking out for the interests of the nation.

The Parliament buildings can be visited by the public. Entrance is through a door located at the foot of the Victoria Tower and next to the Royal Arch. Visitors begin their tour in the Royal Gallery and then move on to the House of Lords. There is a historic woolsack where the Lord Chancellor takes a seat and presides over meetings. From here, visitors enter the Central Corridor, crossing the Hall of the Lords. The historical frescoes decorating the walls of the Central Corridor are very interesting. Walking past the House of Commons Antechamber, visitors enter the House of Commons itself.

At the end of the House of Commons is the Speaker's throne, on the right side of which sit members of the parliamentary majority. Members of the groups that form the opposition sit on the left, directly opposite the government bench.

Another interesting point in the Parliament building is St. Stephen's Hall, which is decorated with very valuable frescoes. From St Stephen's Hall you enter Westminster Hall. This is one of the oldest buildings in London.

London is a place where many historic buildings and tourist attractions are located. Westminster is considered to be a political center of the city where many offices are placed. However, the main part of Westminster is obviously the Abbey. It is located near the Houses of Parliament.

According to the ancient tradition, the church was founded by St. Peter 900 years ago. Later it was rebuilt during the reign of Henry III. The original Westminster Abbey was built in the Romanesque style and then it was reconstructed in the Gothic style. The church is very high and has a magnificent exterior.

Translation:

London is home to many historical buildings and landmarks. Westminster is considered political center cities where many offices are located. However, the main part of Westminster is the Abbey. It is located near the Palace of Westminster.

Westminster Abbey is the place where all English kings and queens were crowned and where royal wedding ceremonies took place. Moreover, there are burial places of many royalty and great people: Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Bernard Shaw, Lord Byron, Walter Scott and many others.

According to ancient tradition, the founder of the church is considered to be St. Paul, who created it 900 years ago. It was later rebuilt during the reign of Henry III. The church was originally built in the Romanesque style and was later remodeled in the Gothic style. The church is very high and has a magnificent view.

Every year the church attracts millions of people who come to see the abbey and visit the famous Poets' Corner. There is also a statue of Shakespeare, which appeared in 1741. Thus, Westminster Abbey is interesting place for visiting. There you can admire the beauty of the church itself and see the graves of famous people.

Expressions

Abbey - abbey

Royalty - royalty

To crown - to crown

To burry – to bury

To found smth – to found something

Exterior - appearance

Britain is administered from the Palace of Westminster in London. This is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament is made up of two chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The members of the House of Lords are not elected: they qualify to sit in the House because they are bishops of the Church of England, aristocrats who have inherited their seats from their fathers, people with titles. There has been talk of reform in this century because many Britons think that this system is undemocratic.

The House of Commons, by contrast, has 650 seats which are occupied by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the British public. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has an elected MP in the House of Commons.

Each of the major political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for each seat. Smaller parties may have a candidate in only a few constituencies. There may be five or more parties, fighting for one seat, but only one person - the candidate who gets the greatest number of votes - can win.

Some parties win a lot of seats and some win very few, or none at all. The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes Parliament. All new laws are debated (discussed) by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.

All three are part of Parliament in Britain.

Text translation: Parliament. The Palace of Westminster. - Parliament. Palace of Westminster.

The British government is located in the Palace of Westminster in London. The Palace of Westminster is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament consists of two houses - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Members of the House of Lords are not elected: they are members of Parliament because they are bishops of the English Church and aristocrats who inherited their seats from their fathers, titled persons. There is talk of reforming this system in the present century, as many Britons do not consider the system democratic.

The House of Commons, by contrast, has 650 seats. These seats are held by Members of Parliament elected by the British people. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has its own representative (Member of Parliament) in the House of Commons.

Each of the main political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for a seat in parliament. Smaller parties may only have candidates in a few constituencies. Five or more parties may compete for one seat, but only one person can win—the candidate who receives the most votes.

Some parties win many seats, others win few or none at all. The Queen, the head of state, opens and closes parliament. All laws are discussed by members of the House of Commons, then by members of the House of Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.

Parliament in Britain consists of: the Queen, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords.

References:
1. 100 topics of English oral (Kaverina V., Boyko V., Zhidkikh N.) 2002
2. English for schoolchildren and those entering universities. Oral exam. Topics. Texts for reading. Exam questions. (Tsvetkova I.V., Klepalchenko I.A., Myltseva N.A.)
3. English, 120 Topics. English language, 120 conversation topics. (Sergeev S.P.)