The Cosmati Pavement at Westminster Abbey

The Cosmati Pavement plays an important role during coronation ceremonies at Westminster Abbey. For over 700 years the pavement has been the setting of the Coronation Theatre, where the crowning takes place.
Watch our Head Conservator Vanessa Simeoni talk about the pavement’s Italian origins, how it is cleaned and cared for and why we’re fortunate to have such a unique and one-of-a-kind piece of art.
More about the Cosmati Pavement: www.westminste...
Coronations at the Abbey: www.westminste...
Plan your visit: www.westminste...

[@peg202xo7]

I visited the Abbey back in the late 1990's and at that time we could not walk on the pavement. It was roped off. The Abbey was my favorite building in London. The history embodied in that cathedral is to me just so thrilling. I attended Sunday services and sat behind the boy's choir. An awesome experience. My favorite spot? The enigmatic face of the Green Man.

[@mikemccag]

I was in awe of it when I was fortunate enough to see it up close...spent a great deal of time there admiring it.

[@anitaelghandor7295]

Magnificent 🌟

[@christinamoxon]

So stunning. Thank you so much for caring for and preserving our history. 💕💕

[@kennyhagan5781]

My mind is blown. That's absolutely amazing work for any century. 🤯

[@heatherstephens9295]

Thank you for looking after this beautiful & historic feature of the Abbey ❤

[@j.f.h.holybible6492]

It was my great honor to visit Westminster Abbey. It was wonderful to meditate there on the beauty of Christ and the New Covenant. Truly among the most beautiful places ever made.

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Absolutely astonishing. Beautiful workmanship and conservation.

[@paolotorres8537]

Oh yes, i remember this. I've seen it with my own eyes.

[@apocalypticweasel9078]

As a present day floor layer i sit in awe of this amazing floor and its test of time and wear truly amazing, considering by todays standards i strip up floors that have been down for only a year.

[@marisarap5788]

All glories to the professionals who had a part in bringing this great work back to us for it to be valued admired and treasured.

[@sjwilloughby-greene8214]

So beautiful. Such an honor it would be to walk on this treasured history. 🙏

[@michaeltres]

The restoration of the pavement was a great moment in the history of the Abbey's fabric. A great wish of mine is to see the same effort applied to the shrine of St Edward, which is currently a cobbled-together mess of a most unfortunate sort. I'm sure some would argue that the clumsy work is a part of the shrine's history, but should that really impede a good restoration? J.G. O'Neilly provided the blueprint for the original structure decades ago, and he even identified what is probably a paschal candlestick jammed into the work. Another thing I'd love to see is a reconstruction of the great rood that once sat above the reredos. Images of the original work survive, and a structure like that would give a finished look to the stubby reredos we see today.

[@samuel.j.barker]

J.G.? There's the initials J.G inscribed into King Edwards Throne as graffiti. I wonder if that's just coincidence

[@michaeltres]

@@samuel.j.barker Coincidence, I'm sure. O'Neilly did his work in the 1960s, long after the chair was protected from further "vandalism".

[@samuel.j.barker]

@@michaeltres Ah, yeah you must be right then. Well it only serves to make it more intriguing, nevertheless. The mystery remains

[@maxsdad538]

I assume any restoration would be rather expensive... has anyone looked into corporations that might be interested in funding/sponsoring such a project? (hint hint)

[@valy0135]

Very beautiful!!!🤩🤩

[@corym8358]

God bless you for your efforts in conserving this glorious house of prayer

[@CapacBibleChurch]

Lovely. Thank you Vanessa for your brilliant work. May God bless you richly.

[@bonitacurtis8053]

Nice historic work. Lovely to see.

[@donnalayton6876]

The entire Abbey is gorous. May GOD continue to Bless it.

[@nancygermain2996]

What a magnificent pavement. Most impressive.

[@mummagoose3686]

Thank you for caring for such a beautiful piece of our history.

[@mojekonto9796]

Przepiękna praca i tak bardzo potrzebna. Świetny materiał. Dziękuję!

[@justinw8512]

Incredible.

[@annh9225]

Thank you so much for this mini lecture - really well done. What a beautiful piece of art, right at our Altar - just wonderful.

[@sueamos3860]

What a wonderful thing to see

[@bookwyrm2011]

Absolutely stunning! 🤩

[@Piemasteratron]

So cool! I love those big circular stones. So colourful

[@lasandralucas7314]

Beautiful work on marvelous abbey.

[@jermanietedo]

Those stones are harnessing great energy!

[@mzjamm2]

Just amazing..❤

[@jackieholmes8098]

Stunning ‼️

[@Xanaseb]

Thank-you. But... no mention here of the representation being of the cosmos? The king is crowned looking down at the world laid before him.

[@Danishullah_1]

Very nice subject ❤❤❤❤

[@barbaragalasso9229]

Amazing!!

[@flopsymopsy7088]

I spent an entire day alone viewing and studying the Westminster cathedral and it is spectacular in every way. Including the exquisite Cosmati mosaic floor. I saw the throne Charles sat on for coronation and the Stone of Scone (stone of destiny). The throne was built to fit in the chair below the seat. It was stolen from Scotland by the Norman’s after they invaded British isles and only returned to Scotland 700 yrs later in 1996. I was there before the return and saw it in the chair. There are many tombs, statues etc inside. It’s amazing.

[@reggiebosanquet1525]

It's not a cathedral.

[@callunaherissonne662]

Westminster Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral on Victoria Street.

[@marklivingstone3710]

It reminds me of a great farside cartoon. It shows the Sistine Chapel in all its glory but there’s a bunch of guys in overalls walking round with boxes. The caption is, ‘long lost to history,the Gambini brothers have been credited with the floor of the Sistine Chapel.’ The three times I’ve been to the Sistine Chapel, I’ve looked at the floor and said oooh, the Gambini brothers 😊

[@christianwestling2019]

Fun fact: Very little of what is being built today will remain in 700 years.

[@alicemilne1444]

Very little of what was built 700 years ago remains today either.

[@oliverclothesoff5397]

The big stone in the middle looks like Jupiter. I've heard a scolar say some of the circular stones are "salami" slices from old Italian columns. Very interesting!

[@chrimbo90]

Seems to be a trending video right now for some reason…

[@nicholasfoster3470]

❤

[@donnamorgese9237]

Cin cin to the Italians! This is marvelous! Thank you UK for conserving history with such dedication. Not much of this type of stuff in the USA and it's quite boring to be honest.

[@reggiebosanquet1525]

There's no type of this at all in the USA. This pavement is 800 years old. You've only been around 2 minutes.

[@joejanczak3014]

Was the surface damaged during the wartime Blitz? Part of the abbey's roof fell in around that area.

[@Foothill1070]

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but if the Cosmati Pavement has such a historical significance as part of royal coronations, why did they cover it up during the ceremonies for Charles III? I can understand keeping it covered "the rest of the time" to protect it, but shouldn't it have been uncovered during the coronation? I also tend to recall that the floor was covered during HRH Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. The practice seems backwards somehow.

[@kelechiprogressejike1622]

Please God let I and my beloved husband be in good health. And my children be health and happy and wealthy. And so can gladly attend the coronation of Prince William. I believe there is a God who answers prayers. I prayed to be able to see prince Charles coronation. And I saw it. God be praised. He is wonderful.

[@elliemathews6884]

Amen❤. That is a coronation I would really want to see.

[@missthang4982]

Cool!!

[@airport4173]

TRAINED BY KLAUS SCHWABE for WEF ideology to INFILTRATE DEMOCRACY.

[@camhamster3891]

Will the pavement be carpeted for the coronation as it was for QE2? I can only imagine it would really boop up the splendor of the ceremony, as the proceedings will be shot by cameras from above.

[@Acer-kz2eb]

✝Divinely ✨Inspiring 🎥

[@jimpolk]

Why is it called "The Cosmoti Pavement"?

[@stanleymmcgregor196]

Some masonic motifs among the stones and black a white tiling all have meaning in freemason rituals at high end of degree

[@robertmusgrave9236]

Why did it have a carpet for a long time covering it ?

[@katherineozbirn6426]

Is this design in a cross stitch pattern?

[@jasonhaymanonthedrawingboard]

I’m under the impression that most churches had a form of cosmati pavements? Maybe not as grand as Westminster. But there must of be a few? As the belief in heaven and earth was paramount. The pavement was a representation of the cosmos here on earth. So all who gazed at gods wonders would be in awe? Some have suggested that the circle motifs are the planets? Though it could also be a representation of the heavenly realm of old folk tales?

[@John-wp5ok]

Gracie Italia

[@dogsarebetterthanmen]

❤❤❤

[@stanleymmcgregor196]

Mason's of highest skills built this unique abbey many secret marks are among stones placed

[@gavindouglas7020]

The world is whating

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Absolutely beautiful architecture. Unfortunately the church of England that runs it teaches errors in several areas.

[@bellaluna730]

Italian designed, stones from Italy and laid by British.

[@clivebaxter6354]

YT is not all rubbish then!

[@robertluiswilliams7189]

❤. Es. Spiritus. Santa. ❤️. 🎅🏿. 🐸🐄🌏🐄🐸. 🇷🇺🤍🇷🇺. 🔘. ♉️

[@accountnamewithheld]

Looks like it needs a wash

[@robertluiswilliams7189]

Your❤. Fear of. Entrophy/. Death. Sic. Pavements of. Life. 😮. “🎉patina. Pa. T. In. A. 😘. 🐯🥳🐯. 😖 U cannot. Clean. Clean. Clean ur. Sin,❤️s. Marm 🇬🇧 🕉️. As it is. And. Woz. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. It. Will allways. Bee 🐸. Leave. The. Life spent b4 u to carry. U. Home. 😋

[@jws1948ja]

charles should never be king.

[@matthewthomas0330]

THE CORONATION CHAIR GOES IN THE HIGH ALCOVE ON THE LEFT OF THE CENTER ALCOVE... FOR THE "PRINCE WHO OVERCOMES WITH GOD" ARTHUR THE FRENCH CROWN PLEASE

[@irenejohnston6802]

The 7 world powers in place, to rise and fall according to The Creator's Prophetic timetable will continue. The 7 relevant to how they have effected His true worshippers historically. Revelation in the 1st century 5 had fallen already. 6th, Rome existed, 7th to spring from it still to follow. The Anglo/American world power is the 7th with US ascendant since WWI. Then The Creator goes into action. Ezekiel 38:23; Revelation 11:18; Isaiah 45:18. This is why true Christians are politically neutral as commanded by JC 'no part of the world' John 15. 1 Cor 1:10

[@GrandConception]

"Corona" means crown... Crown virus

[@tedsmusic5556]

It’s a pity that the coronation will mark the death of both the Church of England and the crown. ✝️🛐✝️

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Think positive. It has prevailed for ages and will continue with God’s grace.

[@tedsmusic5556]

@@ardiffley-zipkin9539 I hope and pray you’re right. 🙏🏻✝️🙏🏽

[@rogeryoung5180]

Rather pessimistic. People have been saying this for centuries.

[@tedsmusic5556]

@@rogeryoung5180 the church and the king are in open apostasy. That’s a new level.

[@gardenroom65]

Charles is playing a dangerous game.

[@zabrinna6554]

❤