The City of Westminster is the seat of the monarchy and government of Great Britain and the centre of many aspects of British economic and cultural life, yet to date there has been no comprehensive history of the city. It is this gap which this volume (the first of four from the VCH) will fill.

The volume opens with an explanation of what makes Westminster unique and follows wiith detailed sections on landownership and religious history. The section on landownership treats the history and ownership of the manors, the large medieval inns, and the estates created from the 16th century onwards; that on religious history provides a general chronological introduction to religious life in the city, and detailed accounts of the history and buildings of all the Christian denominations and other Faiths.

PATRICIA CROOT is at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London.