Ko te whare rangatira o Westminster he mea nui i nga wa o te Middle Ages, no te mea i runga i nga pareparenga o te awa o Thames. I mohiotia i nga wa o te Middle Ages ko Thorney Island, ko te waahi pea i whakamahia tuatahihia mo te noho kingi e Canute te Nui i a ia e kingi ana mai i te 1016 ki te 1035. Ko St Edward the Confessor, te rangatira whakamutunga o Anglo-Saxon o Ingarangi, i hanga he whare rangatira i runga i Thorney Island i te hauauru o te Taone nui o Ranana i te wa ano i hangaia ai e ia te Westminster Abbey (1045<unk>1050). I mohiotia a Thorney Island me te rohe e karapoti ana ko Westminster (he whakaiti i nga kupu West Minster). Kaore nga whare i whakamahia e nga Anglo-Saxons, kaore ano hoki i whakamahia e William I. Ko te waahanga tawhito o te Palace (Westminster Hall) mai i te kingitanga o William I's successor, King William II Question: What was previously called Westminster?
Ko Thorney Island