11th century to the 14th century

c1016
King Canute began building a royal residence on Thorney Island where the Palace of Westminster now stands

c1042-65
Edward the Confessor built a royal palace on the site so that he could oversee the construction of Westminster Abbey

1099
William Rufus, the son of William the Conqueror, built the original Westminster Hall.

c1220
The Exchequer (the government finance department) moved to Westminster from Winchester.

c1220-30
Henry III re-designed the Queen's Chapel, the Queen's Chamber and the King's Chamber (known as the Painted Chamber from the 14th century onwards)

1238
The Prince's Chamber was completed

1245
Henry III began re-constructing Westminster Abbey

1259
First mention of Parliament being opened in the Painted Chamber

1263
Decorations in the Painted Chamber destroyed by fire, and had to be re-worked

c1270
New Exchequer buildings constructed around the north end of Westminster Hall. The Court of Common Pleas came to be located within the Palace.

1292-7
Edward I began constructing St Stephen's Chapel and the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft

1323-26

Work on St Stephen's Chapel continued under Edward II, until he ran out of money.

1331

Edward III restarted work again on St Stephen's Chapel.

1348
Edward III finished the building of St Stephen's Chapel and established St Stephen's Chapel as a college of secular canons.

1363
Painting and decoration of St Stephen's Chapel completed

1365-6
Edward III built the Jewel Tower

1367
Edward III constructed a clock tower in New Palace Yard

1384-96

Richard II built a new cloister for St Stephen's College.

1393-9
Richard II rebuilt Westminster Hall in its present form.

Last updated April 2017