A view of the inside of Westminster Hall

This engraving shows the interior of Westminster Hall around 1720 as a large airy space with a few figures dotted around the Hall. The figures are very small for the proportions of the building and appear to be either court officials or visitors. At this time three courts were housed in Westminster Hall, Chancery, King’s Bench and Common Pleas. Evidence of booksellers is present in the shelves on either side of the Hall as well as flags on display and there is a screen at the far end with a large window. This engraving was produced for a series called ‘British Views’ by John Bowles. It was issued very cheaply in three sets and they all followed the same format with an engraving and some explanatory history underneath. This engraving has nine lines on the history of Westminster Hall