According to legend, Westminster Palace stands on the site of an ancient Temple of Apollo. Historical records, however, indicate that the area was first occupied by an 8th-century church dedicated to St. Peter, known as the West Minster (“west monastery”). Over time, this church gained royal status, prompting the construction of a royal palace. The first buildings date back to the 11th century. Over the following centuries, the complex expanded with the addition of chapels, cloisters, towers, and the majestic Westminster Hall—the largest of its kind in Europe—used for royal banquets, state trials, the chancery, and even to feed the poor and the sick.