The Lying-in-State

The lying-in-state commenced 9:00am, Wednesday, January 27th. For three days, twenty-three hours a day, the public filed past the body of Sir Winston Churchill lying-in-state in Westminster Hall. The hazy, damp, grey that Londoners know so well was particularly cold that last week in January, the wind was bitter and the rain often driving sometimes with sleet. Even so, approximately 350,000 people queued, most for three or four hours, to pay homage to their statesman.

Since William Rufus held his first court in 1099 the Hall had never seen so many people. On innumerable occasions Sir Winston would have stood in this Hall where so much of British history is marked. Charles I was condemned to death here and Oliver Cromwell proclaimed Lord Protector under these same oak beams, William Wallace and the saintly Sir Thomas More, received their death sentences here and for 400 years Coronation banquets were served here. On May 10, 1941 the night, when "the enemy lit more than two thousand fires" the roof was set alight with Nazi incendiaries.

"This was his background and ours, made more real by his words and deeds and preserved, against all expectation, by the resolution he gave us." Edward Bacon, The Illustrated London News Feb 6th, 1965

Within Westminster Hall he lay. In the middle of the Hall was garnet-coloured carpet. Raising from it was the platform on which stood the catafalque, 7ft. high. The bier was covered in black velvet with edging of silver braid and on it, the coffin, draped with the Union Flag. Sir Winston’s insignia as a Knight of the Garter – collar, star and garter were placed on a black velvet cushion on the coffin. A golden cross stood at the head, four large candles glowed at the corners of the bier

Day and night, until the cortege left the hall on Saturday morning, Sir Winston had a guard of honour of officers drawn in turn from the three Services. Four members of each watch stood, heads bowed and hands crossed on the pommel of their swords, in motionless vigil at the corners of the bier and a fifth stood at the head of the steps, overlooking the catafalque, by which the relieving watch would enter the Hall.