This is the remarkable story of Westminster a royal capital that became the birthplace of parliamentary government & the centre of a world power. It is about the place its people & their close relationship. They have made & shaped one another. The ancient heart of Westminster is only the size of a village yet it boasts world famous buildings: the Abbey the Houses of Parliament & Number 10 Downing Street. As befits a village Westminster is rich in folklore & gossip yet its story is central to Britains history & anywhere that has parliamentary government. This biography of Westminster traces the extraordinary transformation of a secluded island on the banks of the Thames into a spiritual centre a royal ceremonial stage & a political capital. It brings to life the monarchs & prime ministers for whom Westminster has been home the architects & writers whom it inspired & the protestors & rebels whom it provoked. It is a tale of inspiration intrigue power protest & terror.