Lying-in-State of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster Hall

Hubert Freeth, draughtsman
1965-1965 | WOA 4377

Details

Collection: Parliamentary Art Collection
Object type: Drawing
Description: Watercolour showing the lying-in-state of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster Hall in 1965. This depiction shows the hall from one corner of St Stephen?s Porch and the crowds filing through and out of the hall?s main doors.

Throughout the three-day ceremony four guardsmen in full ceremonial uniform stood vigil over Churchill's coffin with their heads bowed. Over 320,000 people passed by Churchill's coffin over the course of his lying-in-state. Edward Bacon, a reporter for the Illustrated London News, described the procession as having ?the mesmeric effect of a river flowing past.' Later in 1965, a plaque was placed in Westminster hall to commemorate the ceremony.
Date Created: 1965
Creator: Hubert Freeth (1913-1986), draughtsman
Production details: Date painted 1965
Dimensions: Object Depth cm; Object Width 34.1cm; Object Height 24.8cm; Frame Depth 20mm; Frame Width 550mm; Frame Height 468mm
Materials: Watercolour; Paper; Drawing ink
Technique: Watercolour; Pen and ink drawing

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