A Brief History of Westminster Abbey

War and Peace
Westminster Abbey is not just associated with weddings. It has connections with war with the best known arguably being the grave of the Unknown Warrior, which was filled in on November 18, 1920. Twenty years on during World War II, immovable treasures and tombs were protected by around 60,000 sandbags and the likes of tapestries, gilt bronzes, statues and manuscripts were transported to country houses for safety. Nevertheless, stained glass windows were blown out by a blast in 1940 and, the following year, fire bombs fell on the roof and in the precincts, burning beams and melting lead.

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