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Westminster Stairs

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As Westminster Abbey’s main outlet to the Thames, Westminster Stairs provided direct access to Westminster Hall from its littoral position. The stairs were likely located a few dozen metres south of present-day Westminster Bridge and extended into a small causeway for easier and more abundant boat access at low tide. As the main aquatic access point to Westminster Abbey, which was a hub of royal, noble, and city ceremony, these stairs served an important role in city processions. Even the 1660 entry of Charles II into London was followed by a procession that, at one point, moved onto a barge from Westminster Stairs (The Manner of the Solemnity). Most processions like these were, upon departure and arrival, accompanied by canon volley and cheering.
Like the dozens of stairs along the Thames in London, Westminster Stairs played its part in the intricate navigational system designed for rivermen, who would ferry travelers and transport goods along the Thames. Artistic depictions of these stairs showcase the various barges and wherries one might see navigating the Thames, and these scenes also capture a bustle that is generally ascribed to the activity of rivermen. Indeed, references to Westminster Stairs accord with Peter Ackroydʼs popular characterization of London’s rivermen as eccentric, boisterous, and intrusive gondoliers (Ackroyd 139–143). Thomas Middleton specifically summons the uproarious watermen at Westminster Stairs in his A Faire Quarrell, in which a character is asked if canon-like speech is still in fashion and responds, as long as there are watermen at Westminster Stairs (Middleton sig. E2v).
Claude de Jonghe, The Thames at Westminster Stairs. 1630. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Claude de Jonghe, The Thames at Westminster Stairs. 1630. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

References

  • Citation

    Ackroyd, Peter. Thames: The Biography. New York: Anchor Books, 2009. Print.

    This item is cited in the following documents:

  • Citation

    Middleton, Thomas. A Faire Quarrell. London: Printed by George Eld, 1617. STC 17911.

    This item is cited in the following documents:

  • Citation

    The Manner of the Solemnity of the Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty King Charles. London: Printed by T.C., 1660. Wing 1891:26.

    This item is cited in the following documents:

Cite this page

MLA citation

Smith, Joul L., and Kate LeBere. Westminster Stairs. The Map of Early Modern London, Edition 7.0, edited by Janelle Jenstad, U of Victoria, 05 May 2022, mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/WEST4.htm.

Chicago citation

Smith, Joul L., and Kate LeBere. Westminster Stairs. The Map of Early Modern London, Edition 7.0. Ed. Janelle Jenstad. Victoria: University of Victoria. Accessed May 05, 2022. mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/WEST4.htm.

APA citation

Smith, J. L., & LeBere, K. 2022. Westminster Stairs. In J. Jenstad (Ed), The Map of Early Modern London (Edition 7.0). Victoria: University of Victoria. Retrieved from https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/editions/7.0/WEST4.htm.

RIS file (for RefMan, RefWorks, EndNote etc.)

Provider: University of Victoria
Database: The Map of Early Modern London
Content: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

TY  - ELEC
A1  - Smith, Joul
A1  - LeBere, Kate
ED  - Jenstad, Janelle
T1  - Westminster Stairs
T2  - The Map of Early Modern London
ET  - 7.0
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/05/05
CY  - Victoria
PB  - University of Victoria
LA  - English
UR  - https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/WEST4.htm
UR  - https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/xml/standalone/WEST4.xml
ER  -

TEI citation

<bibl type="mla"><author><name ref="#SMIT17"><surname>Smith</surname>, <forename>Joul</forename> <forename>L.</forename></name></author>, and <author><name ref="#LEBE1"><forename>Kate</forename> <surname>LeBere</surname></name></author>. <title level="a">Westminster Stairs</title>. <title level="m">The Map of Early Modern London</title>, Edition <edition>7.0</edition>, edited by <editor><name ref="#JENS1"><forename>Janelle</forename> <surname>Jenstad</surname></name></editor>, <publisher>U of Victoria</publisher>, <date when="2022-05-05">05 May 2022</date>, <ref target="https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/WEST4.htm">mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/WEST4.htm</ref>.</bibl>

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