All efforts were concentrated on saving Westminster Hall, where the great lie in State, and its magnificent medieval
hammer beam ceiling.
Named after John of Gaunt, who owned the castle in the 14th century, this magnificent banqueting hall with its
hammer beam roof was reputed to be as important as Westminster Hall at that time.
The parish church of St Idloes,in Church Street, is said to have taken its 15th-century
hammer beam roof from Abbey Cwmhir.
Beneath the 900-year-old
hammer beam roof, under the sightless gaze of stone statues of the Saxon kings, the peers gathered on the western side of the south end of the hall, MPs on the eastern side.
Beneath the 900-year-old
hammer beam roof, and under the sightless gaze of stone statues of the Saxon kings, the MPs gathered on the eastern side of the south end of the hall, the peers on the western side.
Now the once-dull columns reveal their original pink sparkling sandstone and the magnificent
hammer beam roof has been cleaned to show the carved angels resplendent under new lighting.
Group spokesman Roger Armitage said: "It is definitely not Kirkburton as that was brick built with metal trusses, whereas the postcard has wooden
hammer beams. It is not the main hospital at Royds Hall.
Upstairs, the
hammer beams and groove on the original ceiling of what was once one large room, also reflects its grandeur.
