Westminster Hall

Ancient building adjacent to the Houses of Parliament in central London, England. The hall, which formed part of the original Palace of Westminster, was built by William II in 1097–99 as the banqueting hall for the royal residence. From the 13th century it functioned as the chief law court. Under Richard II the hall was reconstructed and the oak hammerbeam roof was added about 1395.

With the chapel of St Stephen, Westminster Hall is the oldest remaining part of the Palace of Westminster. It was the scene of the deposition of Richard II in 1399; William Wallace, Thomas More, Guy Fawkes, Charles I, and many others were condemned to death here.