West Window

The design was sketched out by Sir James Thornhill and executed by William Price in 1735. It shows the figures of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with Moses and Aaron and the twelve Tribes of Israel. At the base are coats of arms including those of King George II, in whose reign the glass was inserted and the two West Towers completed, and Dean Joseph Wilcocks.

North side from the west

Richard Trevithick (1771-1833)

Erected in 1888 the window was designed by Messrs. Burlison and Grylls and commemorates the famous Cornish engineer. Included in the design are figures of Cornish saints, and angels who hold scrolls with drawings of some of Trevithick's designs and inventions, including his locomotive of 1808.

Sir Henry Royce(1863-1933)

This window begins a series designed by Sir J.Ninian Comper and each one is dedicated to the memory of an eminent engineer. This one depicts eight foot high figures of King Edgar and St Dunstan. Royce designed the world famous motor cars, Rolls-Royce, and also aero engines, including that which won the Schneider Trophy in the 1930s (the forerunner of the engine which powered the wartime "Spitfire"). Dedicated in 1962.

The Royal Army Medical Corps

Figures of St Edward the Confessor and Abbot Edwin appear here. The window, dedicated in 1927, is in memory of all those in the RAMC who died in the 1914-18 war. The inscription at the base was altered to include those who died serving in the 1939-45 war. Rolls of Honour for the RAMC are displayed in the Chapter House.

Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931)

Scientist and marine engineer who developed the steam turbine. He has been called the greatest steam engineer since James Watt. The figures here are King Henry III, who built most of the present Abbey, and Abbot Richard de Ware. Dedicated 1950.

Sir John Wolfe Barry (1836-1918)

Sir John designed many London bridges including Blackfriars bridge and Tower Bridge and he also worked on sections of the London Underground system. He was the son of Sir Charles Barry who designed the Houses of Parliament. The large figures are of King Edward I and Abbot Walter de Wenlok. Dedicated 1922.

Sir Benjamin Baker (1840-1907)

Engineer of the Forth Bridge in Scotland and the Assouan Dam in Egypt. He also worked on parts of the London "tube" network. The large figures are of King Edward III and Simon de Langham, the only Abbot of Westminster to be made a Cardinal. Dedicated 1909.

Donald Alexander Smith, Baron Strathcona (1820-1914)

He emigrated from Scotland to Canada, served in the Hudson Bay Company and helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway. He was High Commissioner for Canada in London. The figures show King Richard II and Abbot Nicholas Litlyngton. The coat of arms of Canada and the Hudson Bay Company together with those of Manitoba and Quebec appear in the window with his personal arms. Dedicated 1919.

William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs (1824-1907)

Engineer, inventor and physicist, he held the Chair in Natural Philosophy at Glasgow for over fifty years. He defined a thermometric scale which was named after him and also worked on many projects including a flexible wire conductor and the Atlantic cable. Lord Kelvin's ashes are buried in the Nave, near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton. The figures are of King Henry V and Abbot William Colchester. One of the small statuettes in the window depicts Richard (Dick) Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, with a ginger cat at his feet. Dedicated 1913.

South side from the West

George Herbert (1593-1633) and William Cowper (1731-1800)

Herbert and Cowper were religious poets, both of whom attended Westminster School. This window in St George's chapel is by Messrs Clayton and Bell and was given in 1876 by George Childs of Philadelphia. Figures of both poets appear with quotes from their works.

Royal Flying Corps (1914-18)

This window was given by Mrs Louis Bennett of West Virginia in memory of all those of the RFC who died in the First World War. Her son, Louis jnr., served with the Corps and was killed in France. It is the work of Harry Grylls, with the theme of flying men and wings, with quotes from the Biblical prophets. At the top is a figure of St Michael, patron saint of airmen. The inscription reads: "To the Glory of God and in proud and thankful memory of those members of the British Flying Corps who fell in the Great War 1914-1918". Dedicated 1922.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859)

Designer of the Clifton suspension bridge at Bristol and engineer of the Great Western Railway and the Great Eastern steamship. The window depicts scenes from the Old and New Testaments concerned with the building of the Temple and Christ's teaching there. The glass is by Heaton, Butler and Bayne to a design by Norman Shaw and was erected in 1868.

Young Men's Christian Association (1914-1918)

This window by Dudley Forsyth is in memory of the Services rendered during the First World War by the YMCA and also commemorates its founder Sir George Williams. There are two small panels showing Sir George. The main figures are of St Michael and St George, the patron saint of England, with scenes from the Transfiguration and the Sermon on the Mount. Niches contain small figures of soldiers from all over the work who served with the British forces, with coats of arms of their countries. Dedicated 1921.

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