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

Sir Arthur Crosfield

Sir Arthur Crosfield

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Lenin - Percy Circus - second

Lenin - Percy Circus - second

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This recreated façade is the rear of the hotel on King's Cross Road. In 1969 the authentic Victorian houses were demolished to make way ...

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Turners' Hall, second

Turners' Hall, second

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On or near this site stood the Second Turners' Hall 1736 - 66. The Corporation of the City of London

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Edgar Wallace - SE4

Edgar Wallace - SE4

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London County Council Edgar Wallace, 1875-1932, writer, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Nigel Gresley

Sir Nigel Gresley

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By 2008 when we heard about this plaque it had been hidden/removed behind long-term building works. From Network Rail we learnt that it ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

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William Sidney

William Sidney

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Sydney Perks

Sydney Perks

Sydney Perks FRIBA, FSA, was born on 2 January 1864 in Westminster, one of the eight children of Charles Perks (1807-1871) and Emily Marian Perks née Warner (1827-1919). On 22 January 1864 he was b...

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William McMillan

William McMillan

Born Aberdeen, Scotland. During the WW1 he was awarded the British and Victory medals, which he had himself designed. Died in hospital, Richmond, Surrey, following a mugging. Other London work: the...

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11 memorials