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Westminster Chapter House & Pyx Chamber: A Medieval Guide
Explore the Westminster Chapter House and Pyx Chamber—octagonal beauty, wall paintings, Cosmati floor, and royal finance connections.
12/2/2025
16 min read
Where monks debated and kings counted: two rooms, one story of power.
Chapter House
- Octagonal plan; tiered seating for communal decisions.
- Traces of medieval wall painting and tiled or Cosmati‑style floor patterns.
Pyx Chamber
- Thick‑walled undercroft for valuables and royal Pyx testing.
- Early Norman fabric survives—stone, vaults, and ironwork.
Visiting Tips
- Combine with cloisters for a full monastic circuit.
- Note the transition between Norman and Gothic details.
Bottom Line
Spaces that balanced prayer with administration.
About the Author
Medieval Studies Editor
I built this to help you enjoy Westminster Abbey calmly—smarter timing, kinder routes, and context that makes chapels and stories sing.
Tags
Chapter House
Pyx Chamber
monastic
Exchequer
medieval
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